Thursday, 17 July 2014

The Role Of Portable Spill Containment Berms In Combating Pollution

By Marylou Forbes


It sometimes seems as if the human race is hell bent on destroying the planet as quickly as possible. The damage done to the environment on a daily basis is on a vast scale and it happens everywhere. Millions of tons of potentially harmful chemical substances are made, used and transported every year and accidents are not uncommon. In such cases the potential harm to the immediate environment is often of catastrophic proportions. Luckily, in many cases it is possible to restrict the affected are by using specially designed portable spill containment berms.

Restricting the area affected by the chemicals is just one initial step. It needs to be followed up immediately with efforts to render the chemicals harmless and to transport it to facilities equipped to dispose of it. However, the first and most important action in case of accidents remain to make sure that the pollution does not spread and that nearby eco systems are protected as best as possible.

Scientific advances have given birth to specially engineered agents that are able to render chemical pollutants harmless. Some of these agents achieve this by absorbing the pollutants, allowing clean up crews to remove it. Other agents are able to speed up the natural bio degrading process. Of course, these agents will only be effective if the spilled chemicals and toxins can bio degrade in the first place.

One of the latest advances is the development of yet another agent that not just absorb the chemicals, but that actually change them into a harmless substance. Even better, the resultant substance has economic value. It can be sold to contractors that build roads and manufacturers of a large variety of rubber products. This agent can do much to lower the cost of cleaning up operations.

There are still many other instances where these agents are not effective in cleaning up spoiled chemicals. In large bodies of water, for example, the only remedy is to use specialized machines to separate the harmful toxins from the water. The toxins are then pumped into floating containers that can be towed away for disposal. This type of operation is very expensive and must often be attempted in difficult weather conditions.

In some instances the authorities cannot deal with an accident involving harmful chemicals. This may be due to a shortage of funds or of trained cleaning crews. In many cases accidents happen in remote or inaccessible areas or rough oceans. Priority is therefore given to cases where there are dense populations or environmentally sensitive areas.

Environmentalists argue that companies that deal with potentially harmful substances should accept a bigger role in the prevention of spills and in operations to clean up accident sites. They say that these businesses are not doing enough to train their staff in how to act during emergencies and that appropriate equipment is not always available.

Pollution is a reality. It is true that the cost of cleaning up operation can be prohibitive and that such operations can even be dangerous. However, it is the cost to the environment and the danger to human and animal health that should remain the deciding factor. Role players should do everything within their power to prevent spills and to act immediately when it happens.




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