| Every facility in the US that discharges hazardous | | | | persistent chemicals have on wildlife and plants. A |
| chemicals into the environment is responsible for | | | | chemical that may seem harmless today may |
| abatement actions to reverse the effect of | | | | actually affect the economic and cultural aspects |
| uncontrolled discharges into the air, water, and soil. | | | | of society in a very harmful way many years |
| Industrial discharges of hazardous chemicals in | | | | after the discharge itself. Refer to the specific |
| different physical forms may enter surface | | | | Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)/Globally |
| waters, subterranean streams, soils, and the | | | | Harmonized System Safety Data Sheets (SDS) |
| atmosphere. The Environmental Protection | | | | for each chemical identified in the industrial effluent |
| Agency (EPA) has the primary responsibility for | | | | discharge. Determine what may be known about |
| regulating discharges from US industries, and | | | | the capacity of each chemical to cause |
| issues discharge permits for air, water and soil. | | | | environmental damage. Identify the toxicity, |
| The individual facilities that discharge effluent of | | | | persistence of the chemical in nature, and specific |
| any kind to the environment are responsible for | | | | wildlife and plant species that may be affected by |
| ensuring that accidental releases of chemicals do | | | | the chemical over a long period of time. Research |
| not impact the air, water or soil. When effluents | | | | the world-wide studies that are on-going to |
| containing hazardous chemicals discharged to the | | | | determine toxic-effect relationships. |
| environment exceed regulated levels, the facility is | | | | For more information about the content of this |
| responsible for the cleanup, implementation of | | | | article, refer to MSDS Section 12, "Ecological |
| pollution abatement measures, and payment of | | | | Information." For information about |
| fines levied by state and or federal government. | | | | environmental monitoring and control equipment, |
| The environmental impact can range from gradual | | | | supplies, test labs, and environmental services, |
| (chronic) degradation that eliminates plant and | | | | click on this link to access the blog, "Determining |
| animal species over many years, to complete | | | | the Environmental Impact of Uncontrolled Release |
| (acute) destruction of an ecosystem in months. | | | | of Hazardous Chemicals." This blog provides links |
| Although passage and implementation of federal | | | | to references, products, and solutions. References |
| and state regulations have resulted in some level | | | | will help organizations understand the impact of |
| of improvements in air, water, and land resources, | | | | hazardous chemical discharges as well as their |
| continuous improvements can only be possible if | | | | responsibilities. Products provide physical means |
| uncontrolled releases are eliminated. Much more | | | | for controlling discharges to prevent them from |
| research must be completed to learn what | | | | becoming dangerous. Solutions include training and |
| destructive impact that low toxicity, high | | | | computer resources for resolving discharge issues. |