1 Chapter 6 Environmental Risk 6 1 What is the regulatory difference in the RCRA between a hazardous and toxic substance Solution In regulatory terms according to RCRA toxicity is a subset of hazardous A hazardous waste denotes a regulated waste and only certain waste streams are designated as hazardous Wastes are determined to be hazardous based on 1 physical characteristics such as reactivity corrosivity and ignitability 2 toxicity 3 the quantity generated and 4 the history of the chemical in terms of environmental damage it may have causes and the environmental fate Toxicity is thus a subset of a hazardous waste or chemical Solutions Manual prepared by Ziad Katirji and Heather E Wright Wendel Environmental Engineering Fundamentals Sustainability Design James R Mihelcic and Julie Beth Zimmerman John Wiley Sons New York 2009 2 6 2 Identify several types of risk during your commute to school Which of these risks would classify as environmental risk Solution Students responses will vary Solutions Manual prepared by Ziad Katirji and Heather E Wright Wendel Environmental Engineering Fundamentals Sustainability Design James R Mihelcic and Julie Beth Zimmerman John Wiley Sons New York 2009 3 6 3 Identify the top three chemical releases in your hometown or university community using the EPA s Toxic Release Inventory database What information can you find about the toxicity of these chemicals Is it easy or difficult to find this information Is the information consistent or is it conflicting Does it vary with source government versus industry Solution Students responses will vary Solutions Manual prepared by Ziad Katirji and Heather E Wright Wendel Environmental Engineering Fundamentals Sustainability Design James R Mihelcic and Julie Beth Zimmerman John Wiley Sons New York 2009 4 6 4 a List a different environmental risk associated with an indoor environment in the developed world and developing world b What particular building occupants are at the greatest risk for the items you have identified Solution Developed World Developing World Environmental risk is from exposure to Environmental risk is from chemicals emitting from building materials exposure to smoke associated paints floor coverings and furniture with burning of solid fuels such as wood Group that accepts most of this risk are Group that accepts most of this individuals who occupy the building for a risk are women and children longer period of time At the home this could be children and a parent or adult who stays home watching the child At work this would be employees Solutions Manual prepared by Ziad Katirji and Heather E Wright Wendel Environmental Engineering Fundamentals Sustainability Design James R Mihelcic and Julie Beth Zimmerman John Wiley Sons New York 2009 5 6 5 Return to Chapter 1 and also go to the Web site of the World Health Organization www who org Based on the information there write a referenced two page essay on global environmental risk How much environmental risk is from factors such as unsafe water and sanitation indoor air urban air and climate Solution Students responses will vary Solutions Manual prepared by Ziad Katirji and Heather E Wright Wendel Environmental Engineering Fundamentals Sustainability Design James R Mihelcic and Julie Beth Zimmerman John Wiley Sons New York 2009 6 6 6 Recalling that the Environmental Protection Agency defines environmental justice as the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race color national origin or income with respect to the development implementation and enforcement of environmental laws regulations and policies research an issue of environmental justice in your hometown or state What is the environmental issue What groups of society are being adversely impacted by the environmental issue What is the injustice that is taking place Solution Students responses will vary Solutions Manual prepared by Ziad Katirji and Heather E Wright Wendel Environmental Engineering Fundamentals Sustainability Design James R Mihelcic and Julie Beth Zimmerman John Wiley Sons New York 2009 7 6 7 Online at www scorecard org you can search for the location and number of hazardous waste sites by location Use it to search for hazardous waste sites in your hometown or a city close to your university Comment on whether the number and location of hazardous waste sites pose any environmental injustice to residents of the community you are investigating Solution Students responses will vary Solutions Manual prepared by Ziad Katirji and Heather E Wright Wendel Environmental Engineering Fundamentals Sustainability Design James R Mihelcic and Julie Beth Zimmerman John Wiley Sons New York 2009 8 6 8 List the four components of a complete risk assessment Solution The four components of a complete risk assessment are hazard assessment doseresponse assessment exposure assessment and risk characterization Solutions Manual prepared by Ziad Katirji and Heather E Wright Wendel Environmental Engineering Fundamentals Sustainability Design James R Mihelcic and Julie Beth Zimmerman John Wiley Sons New York 2009 9 6 9 The Integrated Risk Information System IRIS an electronic database that identifies human health effects related to exposure to hundreds of chemicals is available at www epa gov iris Go to IRIS and determine a the weight of evidence characterization b the reference dose RfD and c slope factor if available for the following six chemicals substances arsenic methylmercury ethylbenzene methyl ethyl ketone naphthalene diesel engine exhaust Solution Weight of evidence characterization obtained from IRIS that describe the potential for a chemical or substance to cause cancer in humans Chemical or substance Arsenic Methylmercury Ethylbenzene Methyl ethyl ketone Naphthalene Diesel engine exhaust Weight of evidence characterization Human carcinogen Possible human carcinogen not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity data are inadequate for an assessment of human carcinogenic potential Possible human carcinogen likely to be carcinogenic to human RfD mg kg day 3x10 4 1x10 4 Slope factor mg kg day 1 1 5 0 1 0 6 0 02 exposure is through inhalation RfC is 5 g m3 Solutions Manual prepared by Ziad Katirji and Heather E Wright Wendel Environmental Engineering Fundamentals Sustainability Design James R Mihelcic and Julie Beth Zimmerman John Wiley Sons New York 2009 10 6 10 Assume an adult inhales 23 m3 of air every day and the inhalation absorption factor for the chemical of