How to Detoxify Pollutants

How to Detoxify Pollutants from Your Environment

Pollutant detoxification can take place anywhere from its formation source to its final sink or repository. Toxic pollutants can be found in the air, water, or soil and impact us directly or indirectly. They are by products of our manufacturing and transportation systems. First we test and identify the toxic pollutants. Then we detoxify them using control equipment, neutralizing waste streams, modifying manufacturing, oxidizing or burning, encapsulating, land filling or otherwise preventing the toxic pollutants from harming our environment. There are still many unknowns and we have learned the hard way that no pollution emission is too clean or too safe.

Things You'll Need

• Toxic pollutants
• Testing equipment for pollutants
• Detoxifying agents (control equipment)
• Wholesome food
• Pure water
• Exercise

Instructions

AIR, WATER, SOIL, and PERSONAL DETOXIFICATION

1. 

   Where has all the Smoke Gone? Big One's Gone - Small One's Remain

   Require smoke stacks and industrial release point sources to be stack tested annually by a third party with sampling observed by EPA and samples sent to their certified laboratories in a locked box. Make sure toxic pollutants are on the test agenda. Other pollutants caused by transportation are monitored 24 hours per day by EPA's National Monitoring Network. Regions of the county are graded by their levels of criteria pollutants. The pollutants are, particulates, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons (ozone). A region's growth depends on its ability to control these pollutants.

   Cars are more efficient now and most combustion sources are "controlled". Unfortunately the EPA standards are based on process weight and not on the number of particles released. We have managed to take the clinkers out and to call the smoke stack controlled. But we have hardly put a dent in the number of particles and those are the ones we breathe--the respiratory fraction. And what about gaseous emissions, especially the "Green House gases" like carbon dioxide?

2. 

   The New Magic Show - Water Off Color

   Check chemical purchases and run mass balances on operating processes. Monitor water discharges because they can be a toxic pollutant. Cease illegal barreling of toxic, nuclear, or other wastes and dumping them out at sea, or in a pond or lake. Hiding an industrial outlet at the bottom of a river or water source is likewise against the law.

   Plant discharges can be run through a series of clean up systems so the water coming out is in fact cleaner than what is going in. Effluent waters can grow toxic reducing plants as bio filters to further pick up any residual toxins in the outfall.

3. 

   Toxic Soil - Halloween Fright Night

   Track contaminated soils from "cradle to grave" to ensure toxic pollutants in the soil are properly disposed of. Check the waste manifest. Contaminated soil can be treated at the site with bacteria and placed in plastic to allow sun and aeration to reduce pollutant levels.The waste can be moved off site to an "approved" landfill. It can be pretreated to reduce its level of toxicity. It can be buried or encapsulated and then buried. Sometimes toxic soil is hauled to high temperature incinerators or cement kilns and the pollutant subjected to burn conditions that ensure 99% toxin removal.

4. 

   Personal Detox is a Prerequisite for Good Health

   Detoxing yourself (Reference 1) is a precautionary measure for reducing your exposure to toxic chemicals. We are aware of air, water and soil toxins from the first three steps above. Many other chemicals permeate our drinking water, and food is contaminated by synthetic pesticides, preservatives, and other chemicals. Your own personal detoxification is structured to assist your body's natural ability to remove toxins. Wholesome organic foods that are well balanced and followed by eight glasses of pure water and regular consumption of soluble fiber each day are a good start toward detoxification.. This fiber can be found in oats, seaweed and the pectin from fruit such as apples, bananas and grapes. Exercise is also important to eliminate the body's toxins. Follow this simple regimen daily for a few months and you will soon be building a resistance to the common toxic pollutants.

Tips & Warnings

• Toxic pollutants detoxification and/or disposal methods can be found by calling your local fire department, health department, EPA or OSHA.

• Many communities sponsor special pick-ups for toxic pollutants and materials that contain lead, such as acid batteries, old insecticides and fertilizers. Check with your city officials.

• Government agencies such as EPA and OSHA enforce laws covering toxic pollutants. Also State and local counterpart agencies administrate even stricter laws and regulations for toxic pollutants.

References

• Detox - reduce your exposure to chemical pollutants