The source of hazardous and poisonous waste can be the industry, mining, transportation, hospitals, chemical laboratories, household and natural process. Each is not always the result of the process or the main activity but can also come from the maintenance or cleaning of equipment, outdated chemicals, spilt waste and waste of off-specified product.
According to Prof. Dr. Endang Tri Wahyuni, M.S, the hazardous and poisonous waste can be in three phases; gas, liquid and solid. Based on its phase, the waste can enter human’s body through breathing, skin pores and mouth. “Example of this waste from industry that widely spreads is hazardous heavy metal, such as Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr(VI)), Copper (Cu), Mercury (Hg), and Lead (Pb) that can be from paint industry and metal coating. In water, these pollutant metals will accumulate either in the body of fish or plants that may be consumed by humans,†she said at UGM Senate Hall, Thursday (8/4) when she was inaugurated as Professor of Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, UGM. Besides, the professor said that accumulation of heavy metal is possible in human body due to frequent consumption of polluted food though in low concentration. For instance, the absorption of Cd in human body can replace Ca (Calcium) in the bones that causes severe pain. “In the body, Cr(VI) causes carcinogenic liver damage, toxic Hg can damage nerves and Pb can damage kidney and brain,†she added.
In line with industrial development and the more increasing fulfillment of human need, the kinds and volume of waste that are disposed to the environment are also increasing as seen reported in the media. Moreover, according to the lady born in Cimahi, 10 February 1962, the negative effect of waste pollution to human health and the environment is more apparent. “Based on the fact, it is clear that waste management can not be postponed anymore,†said the wife of Drs. Achmad Muchlis, MM.
In her speech entitled “The Hazardous and Poisonous Waste: Problems and Efforts for Processing It with Other Materialsâ€, the professor said that there are various managements for such waste. “The processing of the waste became my research study in which physical-chemical method is introduced, such as coagulation, adsorption, photocatalyst, solidification and incineration,†said the mother of Mochammad Fadhzil Zafran and Hanifah Atika Rachma.
In her final part of speech, the professor said that chemical laboratory waste, despite its smaller volume, even contains varied hazardous kinds with relatively high concentration. Therefore, the chemical waste should be managed properly in order not to cause environmental pollution and public health problems. “Related to this, I have initiated the management of chemical laboratory waste together with several colleagues in the Department of Chemistry, started by gathering liquid waste separately based on their characteristics, such as acid-alkali, heavy metals, non-solvent organic substance, and chlorinated organic solvent. Acid-alkali waste with neutral pH is directly disposed to sewers,†she said.