Sunday, 12 January 2014

How Spill Containment Berms Helps To Limit Damage From Pollution

By Marissa Velazquez


People have become used to a wide variety of pollutants but many of the present day pollution problems are gradual and they are hardly noticed any longer. The exception may be chemical waste. Oil tankers regularly spill large quantities of pollutants and chemicals regularly pollute the country side and waterways. Such incidents can cause immediate and serious danger to the health of humans and the stability of the immediate environment. Spill containment berms are the best way in which to take immediate emergency action.

Containing spilled chemicals and toxins is only the first step in a complicated process that must see to it that the harmful waste is removed and rendered harmless. Various techniques and different types of equipment are used to do this. Each situation is judged individually and the method employed will depend upon the specific circumstances of the incident. The severity, location and nature of the incident will dictate the action necessary.

One of the most effective ways of rendering spilled chemicals harmless is to use special agents that either absorbs the toxins or that speed up the natural bio degrading process. The latter will, of course, only work if the chemical is able to degrade in the first instance. Once the chemicals are degraded or have been absorbed by the agents, it can be removed to a safe disposal facility.

One newly developed agent has caused much excitement I the field of environmental protection. This agent not only absorbs toxic waste, but it actually changes the composition of the chemicals and renders them into a useful mass. This mass is used in the manufacture of various rubber products and materials that are used to cover road surfaces. This development promises to make clean up operations easier and less expensive.

Some pollutants simply cannot be absorbed or rendered harmless by agents and such cases require a completely different approach. One common method is to use large specialist machinery that is able to separate the toxins from the water, in very much the same way a separator is used to extract the cream from the milk. The chemicals are then pumped into large tanks and removed for disposal at specially equipped sites.

It is a pity that cleaning up operations are so expensive. This fact forces authorities to set priorities and in many cases spillages are simply left alone. This is especially true of coastal areas that are remote and where there is at least some chance that the waves will remove the pollutants. However, high priority is placed upon areas that are densely populated, environmentally sensitive or of historical significance.

Companies that deal with harmful chemicals and toxins have a moral and a legal obligation to be prepared for disaster. This means that people dealing with these chemicals must be trained to deal with accidents and spillages. They must also be equipped with the materials and tools that are necessary to react quickly and to limit the damage.

Spill containment berms are vital in ensuring that chemicals spilled in an accident do not spread. It is vital that this type of equipment is available whenever harmful chemicals and toxins are handled and transported. Every minute counts once an accident happens and the availability of suitable equipment is certainly a very high priority.




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