Hazardous substances

Within this topic:

• What they are used for
  
• Safe handling and use
  
• Keeping safe
  
• What we are doing
  
• Further information
  

What they are used for

Hazardous substances are used throughout the Region for many purposes. For example, more than 90,000 tonnes of corrosive substances are used in the dairy and mining industries and for paper processing. The timber treatment industry also uses large volumes of toxic and corrosive preservatives.

Many hazardous substances can also be found around the home. It’s important that we recognise what substances may be hazardous, and use and dispose of them correctly.

Mining

The Martha Mine in Waihi uses explosives and toxic materials, such as sodium cyanide. Explosives are also used at most coal mines and many quarries. The mining industry also uses other hazardous material such as water treatment chemicals and fuels (as do a range of other industries).

Agriculture and horticulture

Agricultural and horticultural activities use large amounts of pesticides. From June 1997 to June 1998 approximately:

• 336 tonnes of herbicides
  
• 284 tonnes of fungicides, and
  
• 25 tonnes of insecticides, were used in the Waikato¹.

Between 1999 and 2003, pesticide imports into New Zealand increased by 12%.  The greatest increase in use has been in herbicides².  As we learn more about the pesticides we use, we have reduced or eliminated our use of those that have significant toxicological effects, and those that persist in the environment.  Most modern pesticides degrade fairly quickly in the environment. The main risk with using modern pesticides happens at the time of application.

Continued storage or inappropriate disposal of historic pesticides can pose risks to human and stock health, soil quality and water quality of streams and groundwater.  Farmers and growers need to be careful about safe storage of all pesticides, and to ensure the safe disposal of any pesticides that they no longer want.

Timber treatment sites

In the Waikato Region there are:

• 30 operating timber treatment sites
  
• 74 abandoned sites
  
• at least 14 timber waste disposal sites.

A range of hazardous timber preservatives, including copper, chromium, arsenic and boron are, or have been, used or left at these sites. In the past, large volumes of pentachlorophenol (a very hazardous organochlorine chemical) were used. Poor management of these hazardous substances has the potential to threaten the health of workers and contaminate air, soil and water.

Find out more about contaminated sites in the Waikato Region.

Around the home

You may be surprised to learn that many everyday products we use around the home can be hazardous to our families, ourselves, and the environment. They include:

• solvents - for example, mineral turpentine
  
• cleaning fluids - for example, oven and drain cleaners
  
• garden chemicals - for example, herbicides, fungicides and insecticides
  
• paints - for example, enamel based paints
  
• dyes - for example, textile and hair dyes
  
• adhesives - for example, those containing solvents
  
• stored fuels - for example, petrol and oil
  
• old car batteries.

Safe handling and use

Some industries have developed codes of practice to guide the handling and use of hazardous substances in a safe, environmentally responsible fashion. Industries with codes of practice include:

• The oil industry - for example, procedures for dealing leaks in underground storage tanks.
  
• The agricultural industry - for example, procedures for the correct use, storage, labelling and disposal of pesticides.
  
• The timber industry - for example, procedures for safe storage and use of timber treatment chemicals.

In 1993 the Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Timber Preservatives and Antisapstain Chemicals was established to minimise the risk to workers in the timber industry and the environment.

Keeping safe

When using and storing hazardous substances there are a few basic rules to follow:

• Read all labels and accompanying information and ensure labels don’t get damaged.
  
• Use with adequate ventilation.
  
• Store in an appropriate, labelled container.
  
• Store in a secure location, away from children, pets, livestock and wildlife.
  
• Wear gloves and/or protective clothing.
  
• Keep the container closed and secure when not in use.

• Use volatile, flammable or explosive substances around open flames or sparks.
  
• Use with inadequate ventilation.
  
• Pour down the drain or dump in a landfill.

What we are doing

Environment Waikato works with other agencies such as the Fire Service, Police and the city and district councils to respond to emergency issues involving hazardous substances. We also prepare emergency response plans, such as the Regional Marine Oil Spill Contingency Plan.

The use of agrichemicals is allowed in our proposed Regional Plan, provided that the risk of spray drift onto neighbouring properties is managed.

We aim to increase public awareness about the safe use, transport and disposal of hazardous substances. Find out how to dispose of unwanted agrichemicals and agricultural waste correctly.

Further information

Find out about how hazardous substances are managed nationally:

• Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA)
  
• Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO)

Check out Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) for a list of publications relating to the safe use of hazardous substances, including safe removal of lead-based paint.

Concerned about particular hazardous substances you may be using, storing, transporting or disposing of? Find out more about them on the U.S.A.’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).

Footnotes

1. Holland, P.T., Rahman, A. 1999: Review of trends in Agricultural Pesticide Use in New Zealand. MAF Policy Technical Paper 99/11.
2. Manktelow, D. et al., (2005): Trends in Pesticide Use in New Zealand: 2004. Report to the Ministry for the Environment, Project SMF4193. 78pp.