The environment: what to be aware of in order to safeguard it
Human activity is putting the delicate balance and health of the environment at great risk. The indiscriminate use of pesticides and chemical agents and our daily use of a huge variety of apparently innocuous domestic products is creating substantial damage to the earth’s ecosystems.
In this scenario, the marine environment is certainly one of the worst affected and the reasons lie above all in the fact that all waste flowing from sinks, showers and toilets via domestic drains ends up, sooner or later, in the oceans and seas.
Suggestions to help respect and safeguard the environment
Urban waste water has a great impact on the health of marine flora and fauna. This has been confirmed by the European Environment Agency which has compared the significance of its impact to that of industrial waste and the pollution generated by maritime transport.
Every citizen can contribute towards safeguarding the environment by taking some simple steps. Listed below are some of the most harmful but commonly used domestic products which, with a little effort, can be substituted or at least disposed of more appropriately.
Cooking oil: a risk to the environment
One of the most frequent errors people make is to think that cooking oil poses no risk to the environment. They mistakenly believe that, because it is a liquid and of natural origin, it is fine to dispose of it by pouring it down the drain.
In any case, the rate of pollution due to various types of cooking oil is perhaps greater than that of other, chemical-based, substances. One litre of oil pollutes approximately 1000m2 of water, forming a layer on the surface which prevents normal oxygenation.
In order to avoid this happening, it is important to dispose of used oil correctly, by first storing it in special hermetically sealed containers ready to be transported to waste collection points. The recycling rate of natural oils is 100% and they can be re-used to make biodiesel or bio-lubricants etc.
Chemical products to avoid or limit
A good way of safeguarding the environment is to avoid the use of certain chemical substances or detergents. It is particularly important not to use detergents or shampoos which contain surfactants (highly polluting substances derived from the refinement of crude oil). It is essential to read labels carefully and choose more natural products.
Ammonia is another substance which it would be advisable to limit or stop using. It is often used as a de-greasing agent, but it is highly toxic to all aquatic organisms and, if inhaled, can also be harmful to humans. There are several natural alternatives such as corn starch or bicarbonate which do not have negative consequences on the environment.
Bleach is also one of the most dangerous chemical substances when it comes to the environment and also for human beings; it is an extremely aggressive disinfectant agent which is also highly corrosive. It should be used with extreme moderation.
Other commonly used objects which should be handled with care
During washing, synthetic garments often shed microfibres. These inevitably end up in the drains and risk being eaten by marine fauna, causing poisoning. The use of special filters for washing machines is recommended and these are available to buy in the shops.
Cosmetics are another common waste item which can cause serious damage to the environment. They are non-recyclable products and must be disposed of correctly: while nail varnishes and hair dyes should be disposed of together with expired medicines, every product labelled ‘toxic’ must be taken to the waste collection point.
Used batteries are highly pollutant due to the substances and materials they contain. Some of these items can be recycled, however it is important to place them in the special containers provided or to take them to a waste collection point. If possible, it is advisable to choose appliances which can be plugged in rather than using batteries.
Translated by Joanne Beckwith
