Thursday 9 April 2015

Spill Containment Berms Are Only The First Line Of Defence Against Pollution

By Joanna Walsh


Everyday, millions of tons of toxins, potentially harmful liquids and other waste are produced, transported and handled. Already the world has suffered terrible damage from the accidental and sometimes even deliberate spillage of these materials. Cleaning up operations are time consuming and expensive. If restrictive measures such as the deployment of spill containment berms are not taken immediately, the pollution can quickly get out of hand.

Containing the potential damage is, of course, the very first and most urgent priority. This is not the end of the story, however. The pollutants need to be neutralized, removed to a safe place and disposed of in a legal manner. This is not easy. Specialized equipment and highly trained cleaning up teams are required and these are not always readily available.

It is not as if nothing is being done about the problem of toxic spills. No, much research have been conducted. There are several highly efficient agents that can absorb or neutralize toxic substances. The problem is twofold, however. These agents are very expensive and they do not work with all pollutants. In addition, the absorption or neutralizing process often takes time, and in this time damage is done to the environment.

Environmentalists have hailed the development of a new agent that is not only able to absorb a large number of toxins and pollutants, but to actually render them into a brand new substance that is actually useful. This substance is already being used in the manufacture of road surfaces and a number of rubber products. This means that the result of a cleaning operation can be a product that can be sold.

The cost and necessity for experienced and specially trained personnel to deal with spilled toxins and other pollutants makes it impossible to react to all incidents. This is why the authorities have no choice other than to prioritize. Pollution in highly populated areas, wildlife sanctuaries and places of national interest receive the highest priority. Spillages in remote areas and in rough seas are often simply ignored.

According to many pollution experts and environmental experts legislation regarding pollution is sadly lacking any teeth. Many large companies vagrantly ignore the threat that their practices pose to the environment and human health. Activists want the government to become tougher and to punish wrongdoers severely. Of course, large chemical companies vigorously oppose such amendments to the current laws.

It would be almost impossible to count the cost of spillage. In some cases the environment struggles for many years to recover. Entire species can be endangered and human health can be seriously compromised. Environmentalists want governments to become more involved and to pass very strict laws to make sure that negligent and reckless operators are taken to task and punished if they pollute.

Humans have been neglecting their home planet for many years. Mother Earth cannot cope with the abuse any longer. Humans spill and they do jot care. At the very least, every operator dealing with potentially harmful substances should have equipment that can limit the damage immediately.




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