The problem of toxic sites remains unresolved for the United States despite the efforts made to manage the issue. Furthermore, mistakes made in the process of waste disposal affect multiple generations, causing massive changes in the environment and leading to the detriment of public health levels. However, of all the characteristics by which the problem can be described, the fact that its effects cannot be isolated is the most devastating one (Singh 889). By setting clear standards of waste disposal, transparency, and responsibility for companies that produce toxic waste, one will avoid similar instances that have a deleterious effect on public health on local and global levels.
The introduction of measures aimed at reducing the number of toxic sites and removing the existing ones as far from residential areas as possible is one of the possible solutions to the issue. Although it does not mitigate the effects that toxic sites have on the environment, health problems such as congenital disabilities and chronic diseases can be adequately managed (Fazzo et al. 107). The proposed change will require shaping the existing standards for waste management and introducing the tools for decontamination of areas that are close to residential ones. The current standards for waste management, in turn, will have to become more rigid and demand greater caution and care from organizations that produce and manage toxic waste.
By creating rigid guidelines for transparency and clarity concerning the processes of waste disposal, as well as updating the policies concerning the management of toxic waste, one will be able to prevent situations such as the Love Canal tragedy from happening in the future. As the tragedy of the Love Canal has shown, remaining honest and open about a company’s policies allows preventing an ecological catastrophe, which is why standards for toxic waste management have to be adhered to and shaped respectively.
Works Cited
Fazzo, L., et al. “Hazardous Waste and Health Impact: A Systematic Review of the Scientific Literature.” Environmental Health, vol. 16, no. 1, 2017, pp. 107-127.
Singh, Kalpana. “E-Waste Management and Public Health: A Scenario of Indian Cities.” International Journal of Scientific Research in Science, Engineering and Technology, vol. 2, no. 3, 2016, pp. 887-890.