Modern technology, which helps process oily sludge in a way that will not harm marine life, and a safe system to deal with medical waste are among anti-pollution methods the UAE's Gulf Environmental Company (Genco) has been promoting.
Genco observed that allthough oil/water separation had been in existence for over two decades, technological developments allowed for water to be discharged back into the sea without harming marine life.
"Anaerobic Thermal Desorption, with adequate quality regulations, is an ideal solution to process oily sludge, and separate water, oil and sediments," Genco official Gopi Nambiar said.
"It is an indirect-fired system that employs the use of an oxygen-deficient atmosphere while desorbing/separating volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds. Unlike direct-flame fired systems, which create an oxygen rich and environmentally harmful atmosphere, this system virtually eliminates oxidation and the formation of hazardous compounds and Genco is attempting to promote this technology with the support of some US companies."
Commenting on the system, Nambiar says: "Whether remediating polychlorinated biphenyl's (PCBs), polyaromatic hydrocarbon's (PAHs), chlorinated solvents, pesticides, refinery waste, marine waste, or drill cuttings, the Anaerobic Thermal Desorption system is the ideal solution."
The official observed that disposal of medical waste was another area that called for attention.
"Medical waste treatment is but one small piece of a much larger system that determines the overall environmental and health impacts of a health-care facility," Nambiar said.
"Historically, many hospitals with on-site incinerators burned their waste stream, including not only the infectious portion but also solid waste and recyclable materials such as paper and cardboard. The recyclable materials may be handled and collected as individual commodities, e.g. cardboard, aluminum, glass etc. Food waste may be composted or discarded with solid waste, like municipal trash. Disposal off hazardous waste such as pathological waste (tissue, body parts etc), infectious waste (laboratory cultures, waste from isolation wards, swabs etc.), sharps (needles, infusion sets, scalpels, knives, blades, etc.), pharmaceutical waste, chemical waste, and radioactive waste, is our prime concern.
"Today, incineration in modern, properly controlled facilities is an ideal method to dispose of virtually all types of clinical waste. Treatment by autoclaves and microwave systems may be used as a pre-treatment method prior to incineration or to reduce the volume of material needing incineration. They can complement, but not replace, incineration.
"The improper incineration of medical waste has a severe impact on society. The environmental activist group, Greenpeace, quoted a May 2001 study in The Lancet, an international medical journal, stating that teenage boys living near incinerators had smaller testicles and female teens had smaller breasts than those living in rural areas. The incineration of waste either in the open or in enclosed facilities emit super-toxic chemicals such as dioxins and PCBs, which are also being examined for their alleged role in altering the sex ratio among populations resulting the birth of more females and males."
Added Nambiar: "The time has come to make a beginning, even if it is to make most of a bad situation and Genco plans to play a dominant role in the region with the support of the government and oil company authorities, who all share the concern of the world and our nation, UAE, in particular."
