Hazardous Waste Problem Sites

Abstract

Industrialized countries are faced with developing programs to deal with closed or abandoned waste sites that contain a wide variety of hazardous wastes either polluting ground and surface waters or posing other unacceptable threats to human health and the environment. These programs will typically involve identification of the substances at such sites and attempt to assess their health and environmental hazard. Subsequently, there may be an emergency response, or a long-term remedial action to neutralize, contain, or remove the hazards. Methods to perform these tasks are generally crude, very expensive, or ineffective. Efforts are needed to identify or develop the most economical methods for solving these problems.