Examples of Dangerous Spills

Spillages of dangerous substances can have a devastating impact on human health and the natural environment. Contamination may also leach into further afield areas, causing untold harm to the wider ecosystem and impacting water, soil and air, for example. Quick action is required to address the dangers but what are these dangers exactly?

Chemical

Chemical spills are one of the most obvious examples of hazardous substances. There are many thousands of different chemicals used in manufacturing and industry that can have long term harmful effects on the environment. Accidental spillages can occur during transportation or in storage facilities. For more details on a Land Remediation Service, contact soilfix.co.uk/services/soil-and-groundwater-remediation/

Biological agents

Biological organisms, if allowed to escape into the air or spilled onto the ground in a solid or liquid form, can be highly dangerous. This could include substances such as toxic organic matter, poisonous gases or even acid. Isolation and decontamination are the first steps, while the area is sealed off and professionals contacted for clean up.

Radioactive waste

The benefits of nuclear energy are many as we move away from fossil fuel reliance, however, radioactive waste is highly hazardous and must be handled and gotten rid of with the utmost caution. Radiation does terrible things to humans and wildlife, even resulting in death.

Explosive or flammable materials

When a substance is highly combustible, they must be stored away from any potential sources of ignition. Explosions bring great danger but fire can also lead to other hazardous substances being released into the air, such as biological agents through smoke.