Posted: February 19, 2012 in Uncategorized

Since we now know the current state of toxic waste, its time to know the steps on how to
minimize or maybe eliminate the use of these chemicals.
Toxic waste are chemicals which can be either solid or liquid that are produced and
released to the environment everyday. These chemicals contains toxins that can cause
injury and death to humans, animals and plants. Most of the people think that the
chemicals are all coming from commercial businesses like exterminators, dry cleaners,
auto repair shops hospitals and industrial applications like hospitals and chemical
manufacturers. Little did they know that product that are mostly found in their homes are
can also cause toxic wastes like motor oil, drain cleaners, oven cleaners, solvents and
paints. These waste should not be thrown out in a regular trash can, here are some tips
and ways on how these products can help you do your part to protect the environment.

Proper Disposal
Toxic waste should not be poured down the drain, toxic waste which are poured down the
drain will eventually find their way in the general supply water. When poured on the
ground, it can seep into the soil which can cause environmental damage. Waste thrown
into trash will end up at the dump site where it will be exposed to the environment.
Fortunately the environmental protection agency has already categorized the waste into 4
namely F list, K list, P list, and U list. What does not fall into these categories is
considered either a flammable toxic waste, corrodes metal, explodes easily or harmful to
humans.If there is no current alternative for disposal, support businesses using
responsible disposal programs, these businesses encourage to those people who do not to
begin a more sustainable program.

Go Natural
How can be prevent toxic waste other than finding natural non-toxic alternatives.
Changing your consumer habits and using alternative product made without toxic
ingredients can also help reduce toxic waste. There are many commercial non-toxic
products available in the internet. Sites like http://www.eartheasy.com and
http://www.treehugger.com provides homemade substitute for toxic products. Another
example of natural alternatives are baking soda, and vinegar. They can be used to replace
many corrosive products.

Educate Others
Taking action in your community is one way of spreading the word in preventing the use
of toxic wastes. Although you can make a difference by changing your habits in using
toxic waste, sharing others your knowledge with others can increase the positive
environmental effects as the whole community joins you in reducing toxic waste.
Keeping up with environmental practice and organize action against waste dumping.
Encourage people the to help and share all their knowledge to others or why not join
greenpeace, a premiere organization that addresses toxic waste dumping.

Raise Your Voice

Be a difference maker, instead of being a follower be a leader and make a lead in
preventing the use of toxic waste. Organize a demonstration to stop toxic waste dumping
by local companies. Ask environmental experts to speak at a rally. Encourage people to
boycott products from waste dumping companies. Write letters to the editors of your local
papers about toxic waste dumping in your area. Doing this may help you’re community
or city to be enlightened with the current state of our environment because of these toxic
waste. Sign petitions protesting toxic waste dumping. Search the Petition Online website
for “waste” and you will find many petitions addressing this problem all over the world.
Online petitions are easy and effective. Use the power of the internet so that all of the
voices of the people may be heard.
Sources:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/120397-prevent-toxic-waste/
http://www.ehow.com/way_5135214_ways-prevent-toxic-waste.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_2074082_stop-toxic-waste-dumping.html
by: Ryan Aaron Tiu

Government’s Involvement on Toxic Waste Management

Posted: January 28, 2012 in Articles

The problems posed by toxic wastes began to be a priority concern of the Philippine
government, possibly due to the increasing number of transnational companies like the
semiconductor industry, as well as local firms, and other countries like Switzerland and
Japan which are generating wastes considered hazardous to health and the environment.
The Philippines, like any Third World country is not properly equipped in terms of
equipment and technical expertise to deal with these wastes, although steps are being
done to define the regulatory and enforcement responsibilities of various government
agencies. As an initial step to get rid of these illegal toxic wastes, the government
promulgated Republic Act 6969 which is an act to control toxic substances and nuclear
wastes.
Below is the content of the said act.

Republic Act No. 6969

AN ACT TO CONTROL TOXIC SUBSTANCES AND HAZARDOUS AND
NUCLEAR WASTES,
PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES
Section 1. Short title. – This Act shall be known as the “Toxic Substances and Hazardous
and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990.“
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to regulate, restrict or
prohibit the importation, manufacture, processing, sale, distribution, use and disposal of
chemical substances and mixtures that present unreasonable risk and/or injury to health or
the environment; to prohibit the entry, even in transit, of hazardous and nuclear wastes
and their disposal into the Philippine territorial limits for whatever purpose; and to
provide advancement and facilitate research and studies on toxic chemicals.
Section 3. Scope. – This Act shall cover the importation, manufacture, processing,
handling, storage, transportation, sale, distribution, use and disposal of all unregulated
chemical substances and mixtures in the Philippines, including the entry, even in transit
as well as the keeping or storage and disposal of hazardous and nuclear wastes into the
country for whatever purpose.
Section 4. Objectives. – The objectives of this Act are:
a) To keep an inventory of chemicals that are presently being imported, manufactured, or
used, indicating, among others, their existing and possible uses, test data, names of firms
manufacturing or using them, and such other information as may be considered relevant
to the protection of health and the environment;
b) To monitor and regulate the importation, manufacture, processing, handling, storage,
transportation, sale, distribution, use and disposal of chemical substances and mixtures
that present unreasonable risk or injury to health or to the environment in accordance
with national policies and international commitments;
c) To inform and educate the populace regarding the hazards and risks attendant to the
manufacture, handling, storage, transportation, processing, distribution, use and disposal
of toxic chemicals and other substances and mixture; and
d) To prevent the entry, even in transit, as well as the keeping or storage and disposal of
hazardous and nuclear wastes into the country for whatever purpose.
Section 5. Definition. – As used in this Act:
a) Chemical substance means any organic or inorganic substance of a particular
molecular identity, including:
i) Any combination of such substances occurring in whole or in part as a result of
chemical reaction or occurring in nature; and
ii) Any element or uncombined chemical.
b) Chemical mixture means any combination of two or more chemical substances if the
combination does not occur in nature and is not, in whole or in part, the result of a
chemical reaction, if none of the chemical substances comprising the combination is a
new chemical substance and if the combination could have been manufactured for
commercial purposes without a chemical reaction at the time the chemical substances
comprising the combination were combined. This shall include nonbiodegradable
mixtures.
c) Process means the preparation of a chemical substance or mixture after its manufacture
for commercial distribution:
i) In the same form or physical state or in a different form or physical state from that
which it was received by the person so preparing such substance or mixture; or
ii) As part of an article containing a chemical substance or mixture.
d) Importation means the entry of a products or substances into the Philippines (through
the seaports or airports of entry) after having been properly cleared through or still
remaining under customs control, the product or substance of which is intended for direct
consumption, merchandising, warehousing, or for further processing.
e) Manufacture means the mechanical or chemical transformation of substances into new
products whether work is performed by power-driven machines or by hand, whether it is
done in a factory or in the worker’s home, and whether the products are sold at wholesale
or retail.
f) Unreasonable risk means expected frequency of undesirable effects or adverse
responses arising from a given exposure to a substance.
g) Hazardous substances are substances which present either:
1) short-term acute hazards, such as acute toxicity by ingestion, inhalation or skin
absorption, corrosivity or other skin or eye contact hazards or the risk of fire or
explosion; or
2) long-term environmental hazards, including chronic toxicity upon repeated exposure,
carcinogenicity (which may in some cases result from acute exposure but with a long
latent period), resistance to detoxification process such as biodegradation, the potential to
pollute underground or surface waters, or aesthetically objectionable properties such as
offensive odors.
h) Hazardous wastes are hereby defined as substances that are without any safe
commercial, industrial, agricultural or economic usage and are shipped, transported or
brought from the country of origin for dumping or disposal into or in transit through any
part of the territory of the Philippines.
Hazardous wastes shall also refer to by-products, side-products, process residues, spent
reaction media, contaminated plant or equipment or other substances from manufacturing
operations, and as consumer discards of manufacture products.
i) Nuclear wastes are hazardous wastes made radioactive by exposure to the radiation
incidental to the production or utilization of nuclear fuels but does not include nuclear
fuel, or radioisotopes which have reached the final stage of fabrication so as to be usable
for any scientific, medical, agricultural, commercial, or industrial purpose.
Section 6. Function, Powers and Responsibilities of the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources.– The Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall be the
implementing agency tasked with the following functions, powers, and responsibilities:
a) To keep an updated inventory of chemicals that are presently being manufactured or
used, indicating, among others, their existing and possible uses, quality, test data, names
of firms manufacturing or using them, and such other information as the Secretary may
consider relevant to the protection of health and the environment;
b) To require chemical substances and mixtures that present unreasonable risk or injury to
health or to the environment to be tested before they are manufactured or imported for the
first time;
c) To require chemical substances and mixtures which are presently being manufactured
or processed to be tested if there is a reason to believe that they pose unreasonable risk or
injury to health or the environment;
d) To evaluate the characteristics of chemicals that have been tested to determine their
toxicity and the extent of their effects on health and the environment;
e) To enter into contracts and make grants for research, development, and monitoring of
chemical substances and mixtures;
f) To conduct inspection of any establishment in which chemicals are manufactured,
processed, stored or held before or after their commercial distribution and to make
recommendations to the proper authorities concerned;
g) To confiscate or impound chemicals found not falling within said acts cannot be
enjoined except after the chemicals have been impounded;
h) To monitor and prevent the entry, even in transit, of hazardous and nuclear wastes and
their disposal into the country;
i) To subpoena witnesses and documents and to require other information if necessary to
carry out the provisions of this Act;
j) To call on any department, bureau, office, agency, state university or college, and other
instrumentalities of the Government for assistance in the form of personnel, facilities, and
other resources as the need arises in the discharge of its functions;
k) To disseminate information and conduct educational awareness campaigns on the
effects of chemical substances, mixtures and wastes on health and environment; and
l) To exercise such powers and perform such other functions as may be necessary to carry
out its duties and responsibilities under this Act.
Section 7. Inter-Agency Technical Advisory Council. – There is hereby created an Inter-
Agency Technical Advisory Council attached to the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources which shall be composed of the following officials or their duly
authorized representatives:
Chair
Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources
man
Memb
Secretary of Health
er
Memb
Director of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute
er
Memb
Secretary of Trade and Industry
er
Memb
Secretary of Science and Technology
er
Memb
Secretary of National Defense
er
Memb
Secretary of Foreign Affairs
er
Memb
Secretary of Labor and Employment
er
Memb
Secretary of Finance
er
Memb
Secretary of Agriculture
er
Representative from a non-governmental Memb
organization on health and safety er
The representative from the non-governmental organization shall be appointed by the
President for a term of three (3) years.
The Council shall have the following functions:
a) To assist the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the formulation of
the pertinent rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act;
b) To assist the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the preparation and
updating of the inventory of chemical substances and mixtures that fall within the
coverage of this Act;
c) To conduct preliminary evaluation of the characteristics of chemical substances and
mixtures to determine their toxicity and effects on health and the environment and make
the necessary recommendations to the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources; and
d) To perform such other functions as the Secretary of Environment and Natural
Resources may, from time to time, require.
Section 8. Pre-Manufacture and Pre-Importation Requirements. – Before any new
chemical substance or mixture can be manufactured, processed or imported for the first
time as determined by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the
manufacturer, processor or importer shall submit the following information: the name of
the chemical substance or mixture; its chemical identity and molecular structure;
proposed categories of use; an estimate of the amount to be manufactured, processed or
imported; processing and disposal thereof; and any test data related to health and
environmental effects which the manufacturer, processor or importer has.
Section 9. Chemicals Subject to Testing. – Testing shall be required in all cases where:
a) There is a reason to believe that the chemical substances or mixture may present an
unreasonable risk to health or the environment or there may be substantial human or
environmental exposure thereto;
b) There are insufficient data and experience for determining or predicting the health and
environmental effects of the chemical substance or mixture; and
c) The testing of the chemical substance or mixture is necessary to develop such data.
The manufacturers, processors or importers shall shoulder the costs of testing the
chemical substance or mixture that will be manufactured, processed, or imported.
Section 10. Action by the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources of his Duly
Authorized Representative. – The Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources or his
duly authorized representative shall, within ninety (90) days from the date of filing of the
notice of manufacture, processing or importation of a chemical substance or mixture,
decide whether or not to regulate or prohibit its importation, manufacture, processing,
sale, distribution, use or disposal. The Secretary may, for justifiable reasons, extend the
ninety-day pre-manufacture period within a reasonable time.
Section 11. Chemical Substances Exempt from Pre-Manufacture Notification. – The
manufacture of the following chemical substances or mixtures shall be exempt from pre-
manufacture notification:
a) Those included in the categories of chemical substances and mixtures already listed in
the inventory of existing chemicals;
b) Those to be produced in small quantities solely for experimental or research and
developmental purposes;
c) Chemical substances and mixtures that will not present an unreasonable risk to health
and the environment; and
d) Chemical substances and mixtures that exist temporarily and which have no human or
environmental exposure such as those which exist as a result of chemical reaction in the
manufacture or processing of a mixture of another chemical substance.
Section 12. Public Access to Records, Reports or Notification. – The public shall have
access to records, reports, or information concerning chemical substances and mixtures
including safety data submitted, data on emission or discharge into the environment, and
such documents shall be available for inspection or reproduction during normal business
hours except that the Department of Environment and Natural resources may consider a
record, report or information or particular portions thereof confidential and may not be
made public when such would divulge trade secrets, production or sales figures or
methods, production or processes unique to such manufacturer, processor or distributor,
or would otherwise tend to affect adversely the competitive position of such
manufacturer, processor or distributor. The Department of Environment and Natural
Resources, however, may release information subject to claim of confidentiality to a
medical research or scientific institution where the information is needed for the purpose
of medical diagnosis or treatment of a person exposed to the chemical substance or
mixture.
Section 13. Prohibited Acts. – The following acts and omissions shall be considered
unlawful:
a) Knowingly use a chemical substance or mixture which is imported, manufactured,
processed or distributed in violation of this Act or implementing rules and regulations or
orders;
b) Failure or refusal to submit reports, notices or other information, access to records, as
required by this Act, or permit inspection of establishment where chemicals are
manufactured, processed, stored or otherwise held;
c) Failure or refusal to comply with the pre-manufacture and pre-importation
requirements; and
d) Cause, aid or facilitate, directly or indirectly, in the storage, importation, or bringing
into Philippines territory, including its maritime economic zones, even in transit, either by
means of land, air or sea transportation or otherwise keeping in storage any amount of
hazardous and nuclear wastes in any part of the Philippines.
Section 14. Criminal Offenses and Penalties. –
a) (i) The penalty of imprisonment of six (6) months and one day to six (6) years and one
day and a fine ranging from Six hundred pesos (P600.00) to Four thousand pesos
(P4,000.00) shall be imposed upon any person who shall violate section 13 (a) to (c) of
this Act and shall not be covered by the Probation Law.f the offender is a foreigner, he or
she shall be deported and barred from any subsequent entry into the Philippines after
serving his or her sentence;
ii) In case any violation of this Act is committed by a partnership, corporation,
association or any juridical person, the partner, president, director or manager who shall
consent to or shall knowingly tolerate such violation shall be directly liable and
responsible for the act of the employee and shall be criminally liable as a co-principal;
(iii) In case the offender is a government official or employee, he or she shall, in addition
to the above penalties, be deemed automatically dismissed from office and permanently
disqualified from holding any elective or appointive position.
b) (i) The penalty of imprisonment of twelve (12) years and one day to twenty (20) years,
shall be imposed upon any person who shall violate section 13 (d) of this Act.f the
offender is a foreigner, he or she shall be deported and barred from any subsequent entry
into the Philippines after serving his or her sentence;
(ii) In the case of corporations or other associations, the above penalty shall be imposed
upon the managing partner, president or chief executive in addition to an exemplary
damage of at least Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00).f it is a foreign firm, the
director and all officers of such foreign firm shall be barred from entry into the
Philippines, in addition to the cancellation of its license to do business in the Philippines;
(iii) In case the offender is a government official or employee, he or she in addition to the
above penalties be deemed automatically dismissed from office and permanently
disqualified from holding any elective or appointive position.
c) Every penalty imposed for the unlawful importation, entry, transport, manufacture,
processing, sale or distribution of chemical substances or mixtures into or within the
Philippines shall carry with it the confiscation and forfeiture in favor of the Government
of the proceeds of the unlawful act and instruments, tools or other improvements
including vehicles, sea vessels, and aircrafts used in or with which the offense was
committed. Chemical substances so confiscated and forfeited by the Government at its
option shall be turned over to the Department of Environment and Natural resources for
safekeeping and proper disposal.
d) The person or firm responsible or connected with the bringing or importation into the
country of hazardous or nuclear wastes shall be under obligation to transport or send back
said prohibited wastes;
Any and all means of transportation, including all facilities and appurtenances that may
have been used in transporting to or in the storage in the Philippines of any significant
amount of hazardous or nuclear wastes shall at the option of the government be forfeited
in its favor.
Section 15. Administrative Fines. – In all cases of violations of this Act, including
violations of implementing rules and regulations which have been duly promulgated and
published in accordance with Section 16 of this Act, the Secretary of Environment and
Natural Resources is hereby authorized to impose a fine of not less than Ten thousand
pesos (P10,000.00), but not more than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) upon any
person or entity found guilty thereof. The administrative fines imposed and collected by
the Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall accrue to a special fund to
be administered by the Department exclusively for projects and research activities
relative to toxic substances and mixtures.
Section 16. Promulgation of Rules and Regulations. – The Department of Environment
and Natural Resources, in coordination with the member agencies of the Inter-Agency
Technical Advisory Council, shall prepare and publish the rules and regulations
implementing this Act within six months from the date of its effectivity.
Section 17. Appropriations. – Such amount as may be necessary to implement the
provisions of this Act is hereby annually appropriated and included in the budget of the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Section 18. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is declared void or
unconstitutional, the remaining provisions thereof not affected thereby shall remain in
full force and effect.
Section 19. Repealing Clause. – All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders and
issuances, and rules and regulations which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.
Section 20. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its
publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation.
(SOURCE: philippinelaw.blogspot.com)

The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), a policy making body of the

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is seeing that hazardous
waste management is made an integral part of the industrial planning process. In the case
of new industrial projects, environmental impact assessments are used to balance
economic growth with ecological protection. Other activities of the EMB are geared
towards providing baseline information that would eventually lead into the development
of standards for hazardous waste management, environmental monitoring and the
regulation of hazardous waste disposal.
By: Gel Jacobo
The Current State of Toxic Waste in Philippines
Posted: January 28, 2012 in Uncategorized

We do not own the footages and photos included on this video.

Voice over: Ryan Aaron Tiu and Ron Tuazon

This video shows information about the current state of toxic waste here in our country.

Hazardous waste piling up in Manila : A Reaction

Posted: January 8, 2012 in Articles
1
Hazardous waste piling up in Manila
By Alcuin Papa
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 21:22:00 01/24/2010
Filed Under: Waste Management & Pollution Control,Environmental Issues

MANILA, Philippines Hazardous electronic waste is piling up at the Pier 18 dump in

Manila, according to an environmental group.
In a recent statement, Eco Waste Coalition called on the government to move swiftly to
avert a full-blown chemical and humanitarian crisis due to the illegal disposal of
electronic and computer parts by companies in the area said to be the newest dumping
ground for garbage from Metro Manila.
The group said it found re claimers foraging through the dump in search of materials like
linear and compact fluorescent lamps, computer circuit boards, and other electrical and
electronic items they could sell, despite the chemical risks and hazards these pose.
“Our investigation confirms the apparent lack of regulation and system that would curb
the improper disposal of e-waste and the perilous recycling taking place in dumps and
junk shops, “said Thony Dizon, coordinator of Eco Wastes Project Protect (People
Responding and Organizing against Toxic Chemical Threats).
EcoWaste said discarded electrical and electronic devices contain hazardous chemicals
like beryllium, cadmium, lead, mercury, brominated flame retardants and poly
chlorinated biphenyls that should not be combined with regular waste.
Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act classifies hazardous
household trash like consumer electronics which include cell phones and computers;
appliances like stoves, refrigerators, air conditioners and television sets; and bulbs and
batteries as special waste that should be handled separately from other residential and
commercial garbage.
“The toxic and hazardous chemicals in electronic waste can endanger the health of
informal recyclers and the people around them, as well as contaminate the environment
with toxic pollutants,” Dizon said.
Dizon added that they were worried about children and pregnant and breast-feeding
women being exposed to the chemicals, especially cadmium, lead and mercury which are
extremely toxic even at low levels.
On Friday, the group wrote to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR) to alert it to the dangers posed by the dump.
It urged the DENR to craft policies for the safe disposal of electronic trash to promote
chemical safety and preserve environmental health.
Compared to other cities in the country, Manila is considered as the most polluted city.
This is because of the huge number of people living on it and as well as the lack of
discipline of these people towards the proper disposal of their garbage. If these
hazardous waste continue to pile up in Metro Manila, the possibility of having pollution
state that is 4 times worse and residents that have abnormal health conditions will be
hundred percent.
As what Mr. Thony Dizon explained, the main reason for this event to happen is the lack
of regulation and system that handles the toxic wastes produced in Manila. Government
agencies that involves in the proper disposal of toxic waste should monitor frequently
where these toxic wastes were dumped to avoid future contamination on that particular
area. In addition, the government should also invest on facilities that treat toxic waste so
it will be less harmful to nature or better yet be recycled.
The fact that they urged the DENR to craft policies for the safe disposal of electronic
trash to promote chemical safety and preserve environmental health is a good step
towards a healthier and cleaner environment for Manila residents. All that needed are
cooperation and discipline of the residents of Metro Manila. To make it possible, the
government should be responsible for injecting information to the residents about the
possible effects of not properly disposing their hazardous toxic waste.
by: Gel Jacobo

Effects of Toxic Waste to Humans

Posted: January 8, 2012 in Uncategorized

The amount of hazardous materials within the global environment seems to have
increased alongside the changes that accompany modernization. Toxic materials are
present in liquid, solid and radiation forms. They may be produced by heavy industry,
but also comes from residential use (e.g. cleaning products, cosmetics, lawn care
products) , agriculture (e.g. chemical fertilizers, pesticides), the military (nuclear weapon
testing, chemical warfare), medical facilities (e.g. pharmaceuticals, radioisotopes), and
light industry, such as dry cleaning establishments. In effect, they are poisonous
byproducts that infiltrate different areas of the environment, according to National
Geographic. Toxic waste contains chemicals, heavy metals, radioisotopes, dangerous
pathogens, or other toxins. Toxic wastes spreads quite easily and can contaminate lakes
and rivers. The term is often used interchangeably with “hazardous waste”, or discarded
material that can pose a long-term risk to health or environment.
Ongoing exposure to these materials can have significant health effects on people, many
of which remain unknown and can cause death or injury to living creatures. Runoff
materials from manufacturing, farming and waste disposal processes can contaminate
soil, water and air supplies. Household items such as paints, pesticides and used computer
equipment are also generators of hazardous waste. All of these materials emit dioxins,
which are classified as environmental pollutants, according to the World Health
Organization. Once dioxins enter the body, the body stores them inside fat tissue. As a
result, dioxins tend to accumulate in the body over time. As toxic waste materials
permeate all areas of the environment, everyone has only a certain degree of dioxin
accumulation inside their bodies, said the World Health Organization. Normal exposure
levels are not known to have significant health effects on the body; however, developing
fetuses and newborns may be particularly susceptible to adverse effects because of their
developing systems. Short-term exposures to high levels of toxic waste can result in
impaired liver function and skin lesions. Long-term exposures can impair the
reproductive system, the immune system, the endocrine system and the nervous system.
Here are some of the possible effects of toxic waste in the human body.
Cancer is a condition in which certain groups of cells in the body begin to mutate and
reproduce at abnormal rates. according to Action PA, an environmental resource site,
carcinogens, or cancer-causing agents are classified as the toxic waste materials inside the
dioxins contained because of their effects on the body’s metabolism processes,. In effect,
impaired cell metabolism processes contribute to how cancer forms in the body. A 2003
report from the U.S. Toxicology Program declared there is no safe threshold of toxic
waste exposure in which the risk of cancer is not present.
The reproductive system, whichh includes the hormones and endocrine system activities
are all subject to the effects of toxic waste exposure. Their carcinogen-like effects on the
body can give rise to birth defects, difficult pregnancies, fertility problems and immune
system disorders. The effects of dioxin agents on the endocrine system can appear in
many physical conditions, skin disorders and diabetes are some of which. Prolonged
exposures can significantly weaken the immune system defenses and hasten the body’s
aging process according to the World Health Organization.
Luckily, there are still ways on how to prevent these effects to occur in our body system,
one option is eating healthy foods. According to the World Health Organization, food
products make up 90 percent of the toxic waste exposure experienced by people. Meat,
dairy products and fish can contain elements, or sediment residues from soil and water
contamination. And while farming and food processing practices are regulated by
government controls, people can reduce the amount of toxins in their diet by avoiding
certain foods. Fat portions on meats, and dairy fat are possible reservoirs for toxic
materials so eliminating these food types from the diet can help. Healthy portions of fruits
and vegetables can also help to strengthen the body’s ability to eliminate toxic materials.
Source:
http://www.ehow.com/about_6129669_toxic-waste-effects-people.html
By: Ryan Aaron Tiu

E-waste Management: Be Involved!

Posted: January 6, 2012 in Uncategorized

The Current State of Hazardous E-waste in the Philippines

Electronic waste is defined as discarded electrical or electronic devices. Informal
processing of electronic waste in developing countries may cause serious health problems
and pollution in the environment, even though these countries are also most likely to
reuse and repair electronic devices. Some electronic waste may contain contaminants
such as lead, cadmium, beryllium, or brominated flame retardants. Even in
technologically advanced countries recycling and disposal of e-waste may involve
different risk to workers and households. Ultimate care must be taken to avoid dangerous
contact in recycling processes and discharging of material such as heavy metals from
dumpsites and incinerator ashes. These materials must be managed with carefulness.
Greenpeace warned that the Philippines presently faces a looming electronic waste
problem which is compounded by lack of international legal defence because the country
has not ratified the Basel Ban to agree on which things must be prohibited by an
industrialized nation from throwing away toxic waste into developing countries and
further degraded by unregulated recycling processes of existing E-waste management
facilities which actually violate the clean Air Act.
Because of the lack of proper measures for E-waste disposal in the country, the discarded
technology is burned, dumped in landfills, and even in backyard recyclers, exposing
human beings, and the environment to toxic metals such as lead, cadmium, mercury,
chromium to name a few.
There is no question that the world has profited greatly from the fast growths in
electronics industry. But most people remain unmindful of the undesirable and awful
health and environmental impacts associated with the disposal of electronic products.
We are Encouraged to be Involved

SM Supermalls encourages shoppers to reduce waste and earn money at the same with its
Trash to Cash program. “Trash to Cash” is SM’s open-to-all recycling market held every
first Friday and Saturday of the month at all SM Supermalls. The program allows families
to come in with trash like scrap paper and cardboard, empty ink toner cartridges, plastic
bottles and scraps, used lead batteries from cars, and electronic waste and take home
cash. These trashes produce toxic chemicals. Glad to know that with this project the
Filipinos were able to uplift the spirit to save mother earth. Recently SM also launched
the SM Supermalls Green Bag project, it was printed with the words “I am involved. The
eco-friendly bag is intended to reduce the use and consumption of plastics as customers
shop in SM malls. When plastics are thrown in bodies of water it decomposes it releases
potentially toxic bisphenol A (BPA) and PS oligomer into the water, causing pollution.
Plastics usually do not break down in an animal’s body after being eaten. However, the
substances released from decomposing plastic are absorbed and could have adverse
effects. BPA and PS oligomer are sources of concern because they can disrupt the
functioning of hormones in animals and can seriously affect reproductive systems.
The solution to these problems lies in the hands of the manufacturers of such devices and
materials. But as individuals, we can help too by upgrading or repairing electronic
products, instead of replacing them with new ones. We can also donate our old equipment
to a family member or friend or by simply knowing disposal options rather than just
throwing the old, useless gadget in the trash.
Be Involved!
Sources:
http://www.greenpeace.org
http://www.smsupermalls.com
Written by: Ron Vincent Tuazon
Medical Waste: Awful Effects to Effective Solutions
Posted: January 2, 2012 in Articles

Medical Waste
Health Impacts of Medical Waste
All beings exposed to hazardous medical waste are possibly at risk, comprising those
within medical establishments that generate hazardous waste, and those outside these
sources who either handle waste or are exposed to it as a consequence of irresponsible
management.
Viruses transmit fast. As medical waste increases, viruses increases and multiplies. There
is specific concern about infection with human immunodeficiency virus or known as
‘’HIV” and hepatitis viruses B and C, for which there is strong proof of transmission
because of medical waste. These viruses are generally transmitted through injuries from
syringe needles contaminated by human blood. In line with the existence in medical
establishments of bacteria resistant to antibiotics and chemical disinfectants, these
contribute to the hazards generated by poorly managed medical waste.

Medical Waste Treatment in the Philippines

Alongside with other hazardous wastes, the environment also cries because of risky
medical wastes. Medical wastes are defined as the total waste generated by hospitals,
healthcare establishments and research facilities in the diagnosis, treatment,
immunization and associated research. Medical wastes include pathological,
chemotherapy, sharps, scalpels, biological specimens, culture stocks, blood
related/stained wastes, used gowns, masks, tubings, etc.

Medical Waste Autoclave

The Philippines already proved that it is possible to eliminate incineration totally. In the
cities, infectious waste is dealt with by centralised facilities running autoclaves or
microwaves. Last 2004, HCWH-Southeast Asia helped the Philippines Department of
Health prove that it was possible to manage the waste from a country-wide vaccination
program without resorting to open burning or incineration.

The Global Environment Facility

Lucky we are here in the Philippines for being a part of the a Global Environment
Facility Project together with the World Health Organization and the United Nations
Development Program, Health Care Without Harm.
The project entitled “Demonstrating and Promoting Best Techniques and Practices for
Reducing Health Care Waste to Avoid Environmental Releases of Dioxins and Mercury.”
It has been developed primarily under the GEF mandate to support developing countries
in meeting the objectives of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.
It is a $10 million project that will demonstrate dioxin and mercury-free medicine within
model health care facilities. It is set to begin its implementation phase in eight
participating countries: Argentina, India, Latvia, Lebanon, Senegal, Tanzania, Vietnam
and the Philippines.

Mercury in Vaccine
The main objective of the project is to reduce environmental releases of dioxins and
mercury by promoting best techniques and practices for reducing and managing health
care waste. To attain this objective the following components stated below must be
observed which each participating country will implement in collaboration with national
governments, participating NGOs, professional associations, universities, hospitals and
clinics.
Developing model urban and rural hospitals that demonstrate approaches to eliminate
dioxin and mercury
Establishing national training and education programs on health care waste management
to serve respective countries and the regions in which they sit
Assuring that new management practices and systems piloted by the project are
nationally documented, promoted, disseminated, replicated, and institutionalized
Collaborating with Stockholm Convention National Implementation Plan preparation
process
Disseminating and replicating project results regionally and globally
Sources:
http://www.doh.gov.ph/
http://www.thegef.org
http://www.who.int
Written by: Ron Vincent Tuazon
What is PCB?
Posted: December 26, 2011 in Articles

PCBs(Polychlorinated Biphenyls) belong to a broad family of man-made organic

chemicals known as chlorinated hydrocarbons. They have a range of toxicity and vary in
consistency from thin, light-colored liquids to yellow or black waxy solids. Due to their
non-flammability, chemical stability, high boiling point, and electrical insulating
properties, PCBs were used in hundreds of industrial and commercial applications
including electrical, heat transfer, and hydraulic equipment; as plasticizers in paints,
plastics, and rubber products; in pigments, dyes, and carbonless copy paper; and many
other industrial applications.(Source: http://www.epa.gov)
In layman’s terms PCB is a a persistent organic pollutant here in the Philippines.
Release and Exposure of PCBs
Oftenly PCBs is released into the environment from poorly maintained hazardous waste
sites that contain PCBs, illegal or improper dumping of PCB wastes, leaks or releases
from electrical transformers containing PCBs, and disposal of PCB-containing consumer
products into municipal or other landfills not designed to handle hazardous waste. PCBs
may also be released into the environment by the burning of some wastes in municipal
and industrial incinerators.
Once in the environment, PCBs do not readily break down and therefore may remain for
long periods of time cycling between air, water, and soil. PCBs can be carried long
distances and have been found in sea water in areas far away from where they were
released into the environment. As a consequence, PCBs are found all over the country. In
general, the lighter the form of PCB, the further it can be transported from the source of
contamination.
PCBs can accumulate in the leaves and above-ground parts of plants and food crops.
They are also taken up into the bodies of small organisms and fish. As a result, people
who ingest fish may be exposed to PCBs that have bioaccumulated in the fish they are
ingesting.

Health Effects
PCBs have been demonstrated to cause cancer to human beings, as well as a variety of
other adverse health effects on the human systems namely: immune system, reproductive
system, nervous system, and endocrine system. (The effects on Health of PBC will be
fully discussed on “Toxic Waste Effects on Health” article)
Bantay PCBs
Bantay PCBs is a blog that focuses on topics that concerns PCB and the current state of it
in all aspects of the environment. Visit http://noburn-pcb.blogspot.com to view this blog
and to know more about PBC.
by: Gel Jacobo
Current Waste Treatment Technologies in the Philippines
Posted: December 26, 2011 in Articles

With the current toxic waste issues and problems in the Philippines we must take in
consideration the laws and policies that are set to serve as guidelines in proper disposal of
toxic wastes. The R.A. 6969 an act to control toxic substances and hazardous and nuclear
wastes, provides penalties for violations thereof, and such other purposes. It is the policy
of the State to regulate, restrict or prohibit the importation, manufacture, processing, sale,
distribution, use and disposal of chemical substances and mixtures that present
unreasonable risk and/or injury to health or the environment. To prohibit the entry, even
in transit, of hazardous and nuclear wastes and their disposal into the Philippine territorial
limits for whatever purpose and to provide advancement and facilitate research and
studies on toxic chemicals.
Toxic waste is defined as a waste material that can cause death or injury to living
creatures especially to human beings. It spreads quite easily and can contaminate bodies
of water such as lakes and rivers. The term is often used interchangeably with “hazardous
waste”, or discarded material that can pose a long-term risk to human health or worse in
the environment. More often toxic wastes contain carcinogens, and extreme exposure to
these by some kind of route, like leakage or evaporation from the storage, can cause
cancer to humans.

DENR Logo
The DENR-Environmental Management Bureau have programs and activities to
strengthen enforcement of Toxic substances and Hazardous Nuclear Control Act namely
the following:
Regulate chemicals and toxic substances through the issuance of the Chemical Control
Orders, PICCs certification registration of importers, transported distributors of
chemicals.
Implement the “Baterya Mo, Balik Mo Program” and establish 100% or 83 drop-off
centers nationwide.
Study the contaminated sites in Clarkfield & Subic Naval Base preparation of action plan
for clean-up and fund assistance and monitoring of 52 wells for possible hazardous waste
contamination.
Implement Chemical Control Order for Polychlorinated Biphenyls and monitor other
CCO implementation.
Monitor and ensure 1632 accredited hospitals outside Metro Manila with efficient Health
Care Waste collection and treatment.
Technology plays a very important role in the environment. Different technologies are
now being used to treat and handle toxic wastes in the country. The DENR website
provided the official list of registered Treaters/Recyclers and Transporters. Toxic Waste
Treaters/Recyclers addresses safe and protective reuse and reclamation of hazardous
materials. It gathers wastes by passing through a cycle or part of a cycle again, as for
checking and treating. Hazardous waste transporters move waste from one site to another
by highway, rail, water, or air. Federal and, in some cases, State regulations govern
hazardous waste transportation, including the Manifest System. Hazardous waste
generators are divided into categories based on the amount of waste they produce each
month. DENR follows a variety of analytical chemistry and characteristic testing
methodologies, environmental sampling and monitoring, and quality assurance. The state
and industries are working to reduce the amount, toxicity, and persistence of wastes that
are generated.
As an Information Systems student I must say that these technologies and systems will
help the government bodies to handle such issues. These technologies and systems are
tools for the betterment of the country’s environmental concerns. The fact that computer
systems and other state-of-the-art technologies are made using extreme minds of
programmers, engineers and analysts, we must be thankful for these gifts.
Source: http://www.denr.gov.ph/
Written by: Ron Vincent Tuazon