Managing the Environment - Essay Example

Environmental Management Environmental management is one of the key obligations of the government but this has to be done in collaboration with key players in the economy. Such players include paint manufacturing factories, non governmental organizations with aims of salvaging the environment through tree planting and clean ups of effluents from industries and factories, the United Nations organization and individual persons among others. Environment management is not only the management of the environment but also the management of the interaction of the society at large and the environmental impacts. Environmental management is not only the conservation of the environment solely for the sake of the environment but also for the humankind’s sake. Environmental management involves management of the biophysical environment, biotic and abiotic. Environmental management is inclusive of the human environment like the economic, cultural and social environment with the biophysical environment. The task of environmental management is multidisciplinary and requires the efforts and cooperation of the various constituent groups (Baxter, Dupont & Theodore, 1998). Safety Enhancements in Industries Industries are vital in the advancement of each country’s economic development but if not regulated can be hazardous to the people living around the industries. The management staff of the industries should implement environmental management practices especially in prevention of leakage to the neighboring residential houses and proper management of effluents. It is the responsibility of the management to ensure that the people working in the industry are safe and implements safety standards incase there is an emergency (Khanji & Uqaili, 2010). Paintex Case Study Paintex Chemicals manufactures lacquers and spray paints for use in building and construction industry. The factory is located around a residential area and neighbors a catholic primary school on the northern edge. This shows how the management of the paint manufacturing company should put satisfactory safety and health management practices. From the fact that Paintex Chemicals manufactures spray paints which may contain lead and other chemicals harmful to the environment as well as the human beings, the management has the obligation of ensuring that there is right disposal of the effluents and implements other safety precautions incase there is an emergency like fire. The management should ensure that there is no effluent release to the neighboring residential houses and in case of an emergency there is no debris to interfere with the living or working conditions of the neighboring human societies. Though there were swift measures implemented during the incident, if there were adequate measures then the chemicals would not have flowed to the neighboring school and creek (Sullivan & Wyndham, 2001). Paintex Chemicals as a necessary precaution would have implemented fire control and prevention measures incase of fire outbreak. The chemicals released after the outbreak are dangerous to human kinds. This is further complicated by the fact that the documents with the information regarding the amount and proportions of the chemicals in the store burnt down. This prompts for a collection of the effluents and chemical analysis done. There are health complications caused by the impacts of the chemicals with the human body (Doble & Kumar, 2005). Chemical Analysis and Measures As per the chemical analysis carried out, there were indications of presence of hexane, benzene, heptane, toluene and xylenes at the stockman’s creek, hexane, benzene, heptane, toluene, xylenes, trimethyl benzene and naphthalene at the temporary lagoon, and benzo-a-pyrene, dodecane, octadecane, toluene and xylenes at the stockman’s creek sediments. Also from the facts collected from a former employee of the company, the paints were manufactured using lead which is very hazardous to the human life. A critical analysis of the effects of the chemicals mentioned above is helpful. Short term exposure to lead can cause diarrhea, convulsions, vomiting, coma or even death. The continued exposure to lead is especially harmful to infants and young children. When pregnant women are exposed to lead substances, the health of the fetus is put at a risk. Lead is known to cause damage to the nervous system and the brain. The symptoms of exposure to lead include appetite loss, constipation, fatigue, anemia, abdominal pain, sleeplessness, headache and irritability (Legge, 2008). The continued exposure to lead can lead to kidney problems. Lead exposure to young children poses a great danger to their health systems as their bodies absorb lead more easily as compared to adults and are highly susceptible to harmful effects. Lead exposure to pregnant women is known to cause still births and miscarriages (Viessman & Lorin, 2004). If one is exposed to lead or suffers from lead poisoning, there are a variety of steps to undertake to neutralize the effects of the lead poisoning. Some of the treatment methods include chelating medications, removal of the source of lead, management of encephalopathy in ICU with supportive therapy and adequate airway protection, and subsequent follow up for management and detection of neurological sequelae. Alternative treatment remedies include belladonna, kali bromatum, petroleum, opium, alumen, colocynth, alumina and caustic homeopathic remedies and Epsom salts in water. To help in environmental conservation and reduction of the lead component levels, there should be grass planting to ensure that the soil containing lead components have been adequately covered and use of lot of water to drain away the lead components. It is apparent that lead deposit in the soil is harmful to animals and human beings at large as it may be absorbed into the body. If absorbed into the body, it can result to reproductive disorders or osteoporosis. As a preventative measure the management or any other person should not burn any item as this will release more lead into the atmosphere further polluting the environment. The children from catholic school should not be allowed to swim in the water as doing so will endanger their health conditions and may create future reproductive health complications. There should be extensive analysis to test if there is any presence of lead components before the children are allowed to swim in the creek. A lot of water should be used to clean up the creek for the safe swimming of the children. If any of the people have lead in their blood system, then use of calcium disodium EDTA will be helpful. The metal will dissolve the lead substances making it soluble thus excreted in urine and stool (IAEA, 2009). The other chemical at the site as per the analysis carried out is hexane. Hexane is a chemical mainly used in the manufacture of paints, shoes, glue and furniture. Exposure to the chemical can cause various health complications and can cause environmental pollution. The symptoms of hexane poisoning include skin irritation, skin pain, dry skin, eye irritation, abdominal pain, blurred vision, eye redness, eye pain, nausea, weakness, dullness, dizziness, drowsiness, vomiting, muscle cramps, tearing eyes, difficulty in breathing, headache, tinnitus, upper airway irritation, muscle wasting and peripheral neuropathy. Hexane poisoning can be treated through decontamination, supportive measures and symptomatic measures. In extreme conditions, hexane poisoning can cause unconsciousness. In terms of the environment, hexane can cause air pollution as well as water pollution. When in contact with water, the chemical evaporates away without causing much pollution to the water. However in the underground water, hexane accumulates and lingers. This has no effect on the soil but water underground water sources are harmful to the lives of animals and human beings. When released into the atmosphere, human beings and animals inhale it but is broken down and exhaled in a few days. It can also be excreted in urinary form. It should be noted that compounds of hexane like 2,5-hexanedione are dangerous to the human health. As noted earlier, hexane on the surface of the water is not harmful to the human body therefore poses no danger to the children when they are swimming. Hexane in the sediments is harmful pollutes the soil and the residents around the factory should restrain from taking water from the waters. The hexane accumulates and builds compounds that are harmful to human beings and animals. The third chemical identified is benzene which is known to have health and environmental impacts. Short term exposure to the substance causes irritation of the eyes, respiratory tract and the skin. When an animal or human being swallows the liquid, it may cause a risk of pneumonitis and aspiration into the lungs. The substance has harmful effects on the central nervous system which may lower consciousness or may even cause unconsciousness. In extreme cases, the substance is known to cause death. This is the case of exposure to benzene chemical levels far above the occupational exposure limit. Long exposure leads to defating of the skin. Also investigations have revealed that the chemical substance has implications on the immune system and the bone marrow thus leading to a decrease in the red blood cell numbers. The chemical is carcinogenic to human beings. Benzene causes blood problems and people who breathe in benzene for long periods can experience harmful effects in the tissues forming the blood cells specifically the bone marrow. This disrupts normal blood production and thus reduces the number of the blood components. The immune system is affected by continued exposure to benzene therefore making the victim less resistant to infections. Long term exposure to benzene causes damage to the erythropoietic organs causing leukemia. Exposure to benzene is known to cause myeloid leukemia. Also it affects the reproductive heath system thus causing for instance irregular menstrual process in women. The substance pollutes the air especially when the temperatures are above 20 degrees centigrade. To curb the environmental impacts of benzene, plants should be planted around the polluted area as certain breeds of plants are known to decrease the concentration benzene in the environment. These breeds of plants include aloe, spider plant, corn plant, nephthytis, golden photos and philodendron species. To work effectively, large leafy plants should be planted and there should be a good mix of the plant species. Heptane just like the aforementioned chemical substances has harmful effects of on the health of human beings and animals as well as well as pollutes the environment. The chemical causes narcosis and nervous system effects. Men exposed to the chemical above the levels of 5000 ppm have shown vertigo, inappropriate hilarity, in-coordination and inability to walk in a straight line. When human beings are exposed to the chemical for more than four minutes, they experience nausea, gasoline taste in the mouth, stupor and loss of appetite. When the chemical is in contact with the skin, it causes hyperemia, blistering and erythema whereas if in contact with the eyes it causes irritation. The personal hygiene measures include flushing the affected areas with plenty of water and soap. The victim should wash his/her hands, forearms and face with soap and water thoroughly before using tobacco products, toilet facilities, taking medication, applying cosmetics and eating. the management should ensure that there is no sources of ignition or heat around the spill, ventilate the potentially explosive areas, use of spray waters to reduce vapors. The building of the lagoon was very beneficial in preventing further flow of the chemical to the neighboring school and stockman’s creek. The children should restrain from swimming in the creek as doing so will cause health problems. During swimming, it is common for swimmers to take gallops of water down their throat further complicating the issue. Toluene causes air pollution, water pollution and ground water pollution and is usually inhaled into the body with the contaminated air or consumed with the contaminated water or food substances. It is also known to get into the body through the skin. The chemical dissolves slightly in water and evaporates from the surface of the water or soil when exposed to air. Large inhalation of toluene has harmful impacts on the kidneys, nervous system, heart and the liver. The chemical can cause unconsciousness and subsequent death of the victim. It should be noted that release of the chemical to the environment causes no environmental harm (Watson, Bates, Kennedy & Health Effects Institute, 1988). Continued existence of the mentioned chemicals in the area will affect the health of the residents and thus the management of Paintex Chemicals in collaboration with the government should undertake the necessary steps to clean up the area. Conclusion and Recommendation As mentioned earlier, environmental management is not the sole responsibility of the government but measures to curb environmental pollution has to be implemented by all the industry players. With combined efforts, a clean and safe environment will be realized. The safety and health of the residents and workers should be paramount in the setting up of industries. The management should implement safety measures of anticipated accidents by creating a rescue point, emergency exits and fire fighting equipments. For the good of the children in the surrounding school, Paintex Chemicals should be relocated to a place far away from residential houses. References Baxter T. E., Dupont R. R. & Theodore L. (1998), Environmental management: problems and solutions (illustrated), Chelsea, Lewis Publishers. Khanji H., Uqaili M. A. (2010), Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development (illustrated), Florence, Springer Publishers. Sullivan R., Wyndham H. (2001), Effective environmental management: principles and case studies (illustrated), Auckland, Allen & Unwin. Doble M. & Kumar A. (2005), Biotreatment of industrial effluents (illustrated), Oxford, Butterworth-Heinemann. Legge T. M. (2008), Lead Poisoning and Lead Absorption; The Symptoms, Pathology and Prevention, Vancouver, Read Books. Lorin. M. I & Viessman S.S. (2004), Appleton & Lange review of pediatrics (6th edition, illustrated), London, McGraw Hill Publishers. IAEA.org (2009), IAEA Helps Developing Countries Tackle Lead and other Heavy Metal Pollution, retrieved on 4th September 2010 from http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/News/2009/comingclean.html. Bates R. R., Kennedy D., Watson A. Y. & Health Effects Institute (1988), Air pollution, the automobile, and public health (illustrated), London, National Academies. Read More