APES

Municipal waste

Paper products make up the highest percentage of municipal solid waste.

E-wastes

E-wastes contain toxic heavy metals like lead, mercury, and cadmium that can leach into the environment and harm human health.

Sanitary landfill certification requirements

Bottom liner (usually clay or plastic), leachate collection system, cover material, and groundwater monitoring.

Clay in landfills

Clay is impermeable, which helps prevent leachate from contaminating groundwater.

Disadvantage of burning municipal waste

It releases air pollutants, including toxic dioxins, and can contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.

Methods for waste elimination

Reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Compostable materials

Organic materials like food scraps, yard waste, and paper products.

Methane in landfills

It can be captured and used as a source of energy or fuel.

Landfill capacity

When it reaches capacity, it is closed, capped with soil and vegetation, and monitored for environmental safety.

Sewage composition

Approximately 99% of sewage is composed of water.

Primary sewage treatment

Large solids and sediments are removed.

Secondary sewage treatment

Organic matter is removed through biological processes.

Tertiary sewage treatment

Nutrients (like nitrogen and phosphorus) and other contaminants are removed.

Disinfection stage in sewage treatment

Pathogens and microbes are removed, often with chlorine or UV.

Sludge

The solid waste left over after primary and secondary treatment.

Sludge digester

Must be airtight to maintain anaerobic conditions for bacteria to break down organic material and to contain gases like methane.

Tertiary treatment requirement

It is not required by federal law.

Sewage disinfection methods

Chlorine, ozone, or ultraviolet (UV) light.

Septic tank function

Equivalent to the primary treatment stage of the sewage treatment plant.

Toxicity experiment threshold level

0.01 mg/kg (first concentration where any mice died).

LD-50

0.04 mg/kg (dose where 10 out of 20 mice died, or 50%).

Lethal dose for humans

0.04 mg/kg × 72 kg = 2.88 mg.

LD-50 dosage considerations

Age, sex, and health condition of the organism are not considered.

Mesothelioma cause

Asbestos exposure.

Ground-level ozone effect

Affects the respiratory system.

Low-income disease incidence

Higher incidence of disease due to poorer environmental conditions, limited access to healthcare, and proximity to pollution sources.

Tuberculosis danger

It is highly contagious and can be fatal if untreated.

Tuberculosis increase reasons

Drug-resistant strains and increased global travel.

Diseases vectored by mosquitos

Malaria, dengue fever, Zika virus.

Reasons for disease increase in the U.S.

Climate change, globalization, and urbanization increase mosquito habitats.

Cholera effects and spread

Severe diarrhea and dehydration; spread through contaminated water or food.

Zoonotic disease

A disease transmitted from animals to humans, e.g., rabies or COVID-19.