Over 30 tonnes of unwanted farm chemicals collected for safe disposal

An estimated 30.3 tonnes of unwanted and deregistered farm chemicals has been collected by ChemCollect Victoria from the State’s south-west in the past month.

The program, run by the Environment Protection Authority,is the final, free national collection and disposal service for the farming community. It will run around the State until June 2002.

Some of the chemicals handed in, such as a case of Larvacide (chloropicrin) and Quibilos sheep dip, date from the early 1900s. Other unwanted and deregistered chemicals handed in include organochlorines, strychnine, cyanide, arsenic-based sheep dips and Dieldrin.

ChemCollect is running in the south-west region until the end of November. Drop-off points will be at Lake Bolac, Ararat, Beaufort, Meredith and Wendouree.

EPA’s south-west regional manager, Tony Robinson, said the response to the program demonstrated the farming community’s growing environmental responsibility.

"It is encouraging to see that in a number of instances we have had people bringing in chemicals from their elderly parents’ farms after checking the sheds for them," he said.

"About 460 farmers have handed in chemicals and it is evident that many of these also brought in chemicals for their neighbours."

Mr Robinson said many farmers brought in relatively small quantities of chemicals, although one delivered 1.5 tonnes of Lindane/superphosphate.

"Getting these chemicals off the farm is good for the environment, our waterways and the community," he said. F

armers wanting more details of the collection sites or to make a drop-off appointment, can call the information line 1800 020 190. More information is available on the ChemCollect Victoria website – www.chemcollect.vic.gov.au

People without bookings might have to wait while farmers with appointments are accommodated first.

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
Lawana Crimeen or Christine Giles, EPA Information Centre (03) 9695 2703 or 0401 140 862
Mobile: 0401 140 862 or 0411 116 079

Municipal Wastewater Pollution in British Columbia

Health Hazards

Conventional wisdom has it that treated domestic wastewater is "clean." Nothing could be further from the truth: Just as raw sewage poses an obvious risk to public health, so does poorly or partially treated sewage. The health hazards associated with STP effluent originate from both the toxic substances and the organic matter present in that effluent.

The ability of persistent toxic chemicals to cross the placenta, to bioaccumulate, and to persist in the environment for long periods of time poses a health threat to individuals as well as to a wide range of species including fish, birds, reptiles, and mammals.⁽⁶³⁾ Subtle effects have been observed at extremely low concentrations. Interference with the endocrine system--which regulates hormonal activity in people and wildlife--is the effect most frequently associated with synthetic organic contaminants found in many industrial and agricultural chemicals. By interfering with cell-to-cell communication, mimicking natural hormones, and triggering wrong biological responses, synthetic compounds disrupt normal hormonal functions and cause potentially life-threatening and irreversible neurobehavioural or developmental damage.⁽⁶⁴⁾ Documented effects on wildlife include immune and thyroid system disorders, disrupted sexual development (feminization of males and masculinization of females), decreased fertility and birth defects.⁽⁶⁵⁾ Table 2 lists the toxins most frequently found in the effluents of STPs, as well as some of their potential health and environmental hazards.

In addition to the toxic materials frequently found in treated effluents, organic substances and their related pathogenic micro-organisms also flourish. Bacteria, parasites, and viruses found in human and animal stools, i.e., in wastewater, cause many serious diseases such as hepatitis,

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