Sunday, January 12, 2014

How Spill Containment Berms Helps To Limit Damage From Pollution

By Marissa Velazquez


Mankind has been fouling the earth for many centuries and has grown used to pollution in many different forms. However, few things can cause such instant damage to the planet and the immediate environment as a disaster involving the spilling of toxic chemicals. The results can be instantaneous and can cause widespread harm. The most immediate priority is to contain the spread of the chemicals. For this task, spill containment berms are utilized.

The biggest problem with chemical waste is that it is simply not good enough to just contain the spread. It has to be removed from the site, transported to a suitable facility and disposed of in a safe manner. In order to achieve this, various types of equipment and methods are employed. The approach chosen will depend upon the terrain and the nature of the chemicals concerned.

Fortunately, special agents are now available to deal with many types of chemical pollution. Some of these agents are designed to accelerate the bio degrading of the chemicals but this will only work if the toxins are capable of bio degrading. Other agents are able to totally absorb the harmful materials. The resultant mass can then be transported to disposal sites.

One specific modern development is that of an agent that not only absorbs harmful and toxic chemicals but that actually transform the chemicals into a new chemical that is useful. It is used to produce a variety of road surfacing materials and also in the manufacturing of several useful rubber products. This is clearly a solution that benefits everybody and that lowers the cost of cleaning up operations.

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 most authorities are forced to prioritize clean up operations. There is a big shortage of properly trained personnel and cleaning up operations are very expensive. That is why some spills are ignored, especially if they took place in remote areas or at coastal areas that boast vigorous wave patterns. However, priority is given to areas that are densely populated or that are considered environmentally sensitive.

It is critically important that every organization that deals with or handles potentially harmful chemicals and toxins have an action plan in place in case disaster strikes. One of the most important steps is to make sure that the people working with the chemicals are properly trained and that they have access to the equipment necessary to deal with accidents.

Pollution can cause immense damage to the environment and it most certainly poses a serious risk to human health. When accidents occur it is important to be able to respond immediately. Spill containment berms can help to make sure that the harmful substances to not spread over a wide area.




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