Every year many millions of tons of chemicals and toxic substances are manufactured or produced as by products when other products are manufactured. These chemicals and toxins have to be stored safely and unfortunately, transported to the places where it is needed. When accidents happen the results can be devastating. It is particularly difficult and expensive to clean up chemical spills. When a spill occurs, the highest priority is to prevent the spread of the contamination. This is where containment berms prove to be invaluable.
Preventing the spread of pollution is just the first step in dealing with the disaster. The harmful substances must be made safe, those vulnerable to the pollution must be evacuated and eventually the toxins must be moved to a facility where it is safe to dispose of it. This process is complicated and each separate incident will dictate the actions required and the urgency with which action needs to be taken.
Continuing research has led to some new methods of dealing with spills. Agents that are able to completely absorb many types of chemicals are now commonly used. Other agents act as bio degrading accelerators. Once applied to a spill the toxins degrade at a much faster rate. This means that the toxins can be handled with safety and removed from the scene of the spill without endangering cleaning crews.
Environmental watchdog organizations have lauded the launch of yet another agent in the fight against chemical pollution. This agent also absorbs the spill but as an added bonus it actually renders the toxins into a useful substance. This substance can be used for producing a wide variety of rubber products. It is also used during road construction. This lowers the cost of cleaning operations.
Not every spill can be cleaned up by using neutralizing and absorbing agents. Some chemicals simply do not degrade and absorbing some chemicals is extremely difficult, especially if the spill took place in a body of water. In these cases efforts are made to separate the water from the chemicals. This can be done because there is a weight difference between the water and the pollutants. The chemicals are then pumped into containers.
Environmentalists may find it unpalatable but it is a fact that it is simply not possible to clean up all spills. The cost of such operations is prohibitive and there is a chronic shortage of people that are trained to deal with this type of disaster. Authorities therefore routinely ignore spills in remote areas and some coastal areas. Priority is given to densely populated and environmentally sensitive areas.
There are strict regulations governing the manufacture, storage, transport and use of dangerous substances. However, many companies are still not prepared to deal with disasters. It is vital to develop policies addressing these issues and to make sure that staff knows exactly what to do when an accident occur. It is also important to make sure that suitable containing equipment is available at all times.
There is a myriad of products in everyday use that contain potentially harmful chemicals. Those handling and manufacturing these substances simply have to remain aware of the danger and they should do everything possible to prevent accidents. If it happens, however, every effort should be made to make sure that the absolute minimum harm is caused to the environment.
Read more about How Containment Berms Help In The Fight Against Pollution.
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Containment Berms Can Help Limit The Damage Caused By Spilled Chemicals
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