Hazardous Waste

Module 4 Lesson 4 LESSON 4: NOT ALL WASTE IS CREATED EQUAL

OVERVIEW: In this lesson, students will learn about the distinction between hazardous waste and other forms of waste as well as discuss the current challenges we face in finding ways to safely dispose of this waste. First, students will discuss their own conceptions of hazardous waste. Then, they will view a teacher-directed PowerPoint which provides additional information about hazardous waste. The lesson then concludes with the viewing of videos that relate to e-waste management issues. SUB-QUESTION: Why are hazardous wastes so dangerous and where do these wastes go in the ecosystem?

WAYS OF KNOWING URBAN ECOLOGY:

Understand

Students will Understand the proportional nature of toxicity. Understand that hazardous waste is classified using four categories: flammability, corrosiveness, reactivity and toxicity. Understand that the e-waste produced in the United States is impacting other countries like China and India. No specific goals connected with acting on urban ecology in this lesson. Make predictions about the lethal dose of a variety of substances. Propose ways in which they can reduce their solid waste contributions. No specific goals connected with acting on urban ecology in this lesson.

Talk Do

Act

SAFETY GUIDELINES: None PREPARATION: Time: 1 class period

Materials: Activity 4.1 Student Worksheet Activity 4.2 Hazardous Waste Power Point Presentation

Hazardous Waste

Module 4 Lesson 4

LCD Projector Activity 4.3 Video clip #1 Video clip #2

INSTRUCTIONAL SEQUENCE: Activity 4.1: Anything can be toxic, but when is it Hazardous? 1. Refer students to the previous brine shrimp lesson. Ask them, Would you consider the tested substances to be toxic to brine shrimp? 2. Then distribute the student sheet for Activity 4.1. Tell students that you will be discussing the toxicity levels of various substances that affect animals including humans. 3. Have students review the table and answer the questions on the worksheet. Student answers to these questions should then be discussed prior to the Power Point presentation so that they have a basic understanding of hazardous waste before taking notes. Activity 4.2: Power-Point of Hazardous Waste 1. Show students power point about hazardous wastes and discuss their understandings of the terms being presented. Key points that students should know are o The four criteria that are used to classify hazardous waste. Flammability Corrosiveness Reactivity Toxicity o Three categories of hazardous waste Synthetic organic compounds Household wastes Heavy Metals o The concentration of wastes are important in determining how hazardous they are. o Some examples of hazardous waste in each of the categories. Activity 4.3: YouTube Videos: 1. Tell Students that you are going to show them two short videos that provide different perspectives on e-waste management. After each video, students should be given an opportunity to voice their opinions on what they saw. o Clip #1- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXzsqTFwV3Q E-waste: Dumping on the Poor created by the Asia Society (4:35)

Hazardous Waste

Module 4 Lesson 4

Teaching Strategy Possible Questions to aid in the discussion of Clip 1: Why should we care about how our waste is affecting those countries that are accepting our e-waste? How can throwing electronics in the garbage impact our own community?

o Clip #2 : The Green Way to Throw Out E-Waste created by NBC News (2:19 minutes)- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4xBFXYmDNU Teaching Strategy Possible Questions to aid in the discussion of Clip 2: Why do you think the recycling of e-waste is not more common? Do you know of any e-waste recycling companies in your area? What do you think happens to the e-waste you throw in the trash?

Concluding the Lesson 1. Have students brainstorm hazardous wastes that they may come across in their daily lives. o How do they dispose of them? o How might they avoid using hazardous wastes?

Hazardous Waste

Module 4 Lesson 4

Lethal Dose Table

Lethal Dose (LD50) is the amount of an ingested substance that kills 50 percent of a test sample. It is expressed as mg/kg or milligrams of substance per kilogram of body weight. You should assume that LD50 is the same for rats and humans. Lethal doses
LD50 200 mg/kg (rat, oral) LD50 3g/kg (rat, oral) 12357 mg/kg (human, oral) LD50 850 mg/kg (rat, inhaled) LD50 15 mg/kg (rat, oral) LD50 30 g/kg (rat, oral) Lowest published dose 450 mg/kg (human, oral) LD50 140mg/kg (dog,oral) LD50 7060 mg/kg (rat, oral) LD50 2000mg/kg LD50 225 mg/kg (rat, oral) LD50 25-200mg/kg (rat, oral)

Common Toxin name

aspirin Acetyl-salicylic acid C 9H 8O 4 sodium chloride NaCl Chlorine Cl2 arsenic, arsenic trioxide As, As4O6

Description
Odorless white crystal white cubic crystals greenish colored gas, amber liquid, pungent odor grey metallic crystals

Toxic Response
Gastric distress, confusion, psychosis, stupor, ringing in the ears, drowsiness, hyperventilation eye irritant, elevated blood pressure corrosive to eyes, skin, respiratory tract, nausea, vomiting, pulmonary edema acute- irritates eyes, skin, respiratory tract, nausea. chronic-convulsions, tissue lesions, hemorrhage, kidney impairment depressed activity, gastrointestinal disturbance, If diabetic-heart disease, blindness, nerve damage, kidney damage. acute- headache, insomnia, joint pain Chronic- anemia, kidney disease, reproductive and developmental toxin acute renal failure, nausea, psychosis, hemorrhage, increased pulse, convulsions nausea, headache, vomiting, dizziness, nervous system depression, confusion, loss of consciousness convulsions, unconsciousness, reproductive toxin Renal damage, lung damage, bone damage Nervous system failure, visual disorders, deafness

table salt

bleach (fumes) arsenic

sugar

glucose C6H12O6 lead Pb

sweet white powder bluish, silvery solid

lead

cola alcohol

caffeine C8H10N4O2 ethanol C 2H 6O retinol C20H30O Cd

white odorless powder or crystals colorless liquid, pleasant odor yellow crystals, orange solid Lustrous solid

vitamin A Cadmium

Mercury Compounds

Hg

Odorless, Silver liquid

Hazardous Waste Name: _________________________________ Date: _________

Module 4 Lesson 4 Class/Period:________

Student Worksheet (4.1)

Purpose: In this activity you will compare the toxicity of various substances. Lethal Dose (LD50) is the amount of an ingested substance that kills 50 percent of a test sample. It is expressed as mg/kg or milligrams of substance per kilogram of body weight. You should assume that LD50 is the same for rats and humans. 1. According to the table, which substances can be toxic or deadly?

2. What distinguishes substances like salt and sugar from those found in e-waste like lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic?

3. Given what you have written above, write a definition for hazardous materials.

Hazardous Waste

Module 4 Lesson 4

Lethal Dose Table

Lethal Dose (LD50) is the amount of an ingested substance that kills 50 percent of a test sample. It is expressed as mg/kg or milligrams of substance per kilogram of body weight. You should assume that LD50 is the same for rats and humans. Lethal doses
LD50 200 mg/kg (rat, oral) LD50 3g/kg (rat, oral) 12357 mg/kg (human, oral) LD50 850 mg/kg (rat, inhaled) LD50 15 mg/kg (rat, oral) LD50 30 g/kg (rat, oral) Lowest published dose 450 mg/kg (human, oral) LD50 140mg/kg (dog,oral) LD50 7060 mg/kg (rat, oral) LD50 2000mg/kg LD50 225 mg/kg (rat, oral) LD50 1 mg/kg (rat, oral)

Common Toxin name

aspirin Acetyl-salicylic acid C 9H 8O 4 sodium chloride NaCl Chlorine Cl2 arsenic, arsenic trioxide As, As4O6

Description
Odorless white crystal white cubic crystals greenish colored gas, amber liquid, pungent odor grey metallic crystals

Toxic Response
Gastric distress, confusion, psychosis, stupor, ringing in the ears, drowsiness, hyperventilation eye irritant, elevated blood pressure corrosive to eyes, skin, respiratory tract, nausea, vomiting, pulmonary edema acute- irritates eyes, skin, respiratory tract, nausea. chronic-convulsions, tissue lesions, hemorrhage, kidney impairment depressed activity, gastrointestinal disturbance, If diabetic-heart disease, blindness, nerve damage, kidney damage. acute- headache, insomnia, joint pain Chronic- anemia, kidney disease, reproductive and developmental toxin acute renal failure, nausea, psychosis, hemorrhage, increased pulse, convulsions nausea, headache, vomiting, dizziness, nervous system depression, confusion, loss of consciousness convulsions, unconsciousness, reproductive toxin Renal damage, lung damage, bone damage Nervous system failure, visual disorders, deafness

table salt

bleach (fumes) arsenic

sugar

glucose C6H12O6 lead Pb

sweet white powder bluish, silvery solid

lead

cola alcohol

caffeine C8H10N4O2 ethanol C 2H 6O retinol C20H30O Cd

white odorless powder or crystals colorless liquid, pleasant odor yellow crystals, orange solid Lustrous solid

vitamin A Cadmium

Mercury

Hg

Odorless, Silver liquid

Hazardous Waste

Module 4 Lesson 4

Name __________Teacher Version__________________ Date ____________ Class________

Student Worksheet (4.1)

Purpose: In this activity you will compare the toxicity of various substances. Lethal Dose (LD50) is the amount of an ingested substance that kills 50 percent of a test sample. It is expressed as mg/kg or milligrams of substance per kilogram of body weight. You should assume that LD50 is the same for rats and humans. 1. According to the table, which substances can be toxic or deadly? All substances are potentially toxic to an organism if enough of it is taken in (orally, dermally, through inhalation, etc.)

2. What distinguishes substances like salt and sugar from those found in e-waste like lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic? Although substances like salt and sugar can be toxic, that only occurs if excessively large amounts are taken in by the organism. Those substances associated with e-waste require much smaller quantities and also pose greater negative responses in the organism.

3. Given what you have written above, write a definition for hazardous materials. The definitions should include the idea that although all things can be considered harmful in extremes, those materials that cause the most damage in small amounts are considered hazardous.