The problem of toxic chemical wastes and their deposition in Developing Countries

ABSTRACT

This paper examines the nature and origin of toxic wastes that eventually find themselves in the environment - the land; sea; acean and the atmosphere. It discusses the problems of waste accumulation; waste treatment and waste disposal in both the industrialised and the developing countries and highlights the adverse effects on plants; animals and human lives of these toxic chemicals. The socio-economic and other factors; which make developing countries targets for the dumping exercises; are highlighted and strategies for combatting such activities are proposed. In conclusion the paper makes general recommendations on environmental issues; stressing the seriousness of the specific hazardous effects of selected types of toxic chemicals and also of substances which on their own; can decompose to yield toxic principles when subjected to atmosphere or microbial interactions