Team:Oxford/P&P environmental impact

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Environmental impact of DCM


Current disposal methods for chlorinated solvents are inadequate on every level. Because individual users may use chlorinated solvents infrequently or in very small amounts, they make not think it worthwhile, may not have the means or the information to ensure it is disposed of properly. However, cumulatively these small incidents amount to a large volume of chlorinated solvents which are simply poured down the drain and can cause grave environmental damage. For worse is the impact of the much greater volumes of chlorinated solvents used professionally and in industry - although disposal is regulated and there may be penalties for failure to separate out chlorinated waste, currently chlorinated solvents which can no longer be recycled are simply incinerated released damaging compounds into the atmosphere. According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), many chlorinated solvents including dichloromethane do not appear to occur naturally in the environment.1 Hover over the images to reveal more information about the harmful effects of chlorinated solvents on each area of the environment...
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