Landfill Toxic Poisons

All landfills have poisions and they all leach poisons. Sometimes poisons can enter groundwater immediately, depending on location, while others can take much longer. In many municipalities leachates are able to enter groundwater in a matter of days. The smoke from landfills can often give off dioxins an furans which are extremely poisonous. The high concentration of poisons (leachates) should be troubling to everyone and the best reason to recycle our products and extend the use of them as much as possible.

Health Effects of Toxic Chemicals in Landfill Leachates
Arsenic	Cancer causing; cardiovascular, peripheral nervous system, reproductive and lung/respiratory effects; liver and skin damage
Cadmium	Probable carcinogen and teratogen; toxic to embryos; effects on Central Nervous System (CNS), reproductive and lung/respiratory systems; kidney damage
Chromium	Carcinogenic, probable mutagen, lung/respiratory effects, allergic sensitization, eye irritation
Lead	Probable teratogen, kidney and brain damage, CNS and reproductive effects, blood cell disorders; negatively affects intelligence, growth and development of children.
Mercury	Teratogenic (organic mercury substances); CNS, cardiovascular and lung/respiratory effects; kidney and visual damage
Nickel	Probable carcinogen, possible teratogen, lung/respiratory effects, allergic sensitization, eye and skin irritation, liver and kidney damage
Benzene	Human carcinogen, mutagen, and possible teratogen; central nervous system (CNS), peripheral nervous system, immunological and gastrointestinal effects; blood cell disorders; allergic sensitization; eye and skin irritation
Chloroform	Probable human carcinogen and possible teratogen; CNS and gastrointestinal effects; kidney and liver damage; embryotoxic; eye and skin irritation
1,1-dichlorethane	Embryotoxic; CNS effects; kidney and liver damage
Ethylbenzene	CNS effects; kidney and liver damage; upper respiratory system, eye and skin irritation
Methylene Chloride	Possible carcinogen; CNS, lung/respiratory system, and cardiovascular effects; blood disorders; eye and skin irritation
Tetrachloroethylene	Probable carcinogen; CNS and lung/respiratory effects; embryotoxic; kidney and liver damage; upper respiratory tract and eye irritation
Toluene	Possible mutagen and carcinogen; CNS and cardiovascular effects; kidney and liver damage; upper respiratory tract, eye and skin irritation; and allergic sensitization
Trichloroethylene	Possible carcinogen and teratogen; CNS , kidneys, liver, cardiovascular system, and lung/respiratory system effects; blood cell disorders; skin, eye and upper respiratory irritation
1,1,1-trichloroethylene	Carcinogenic; mutagenic; CNS and lung/respiratory effects; kidney and liver damage; eye and skin irritation
Vinyl Chloride	Carcinogenic; mutagenic; possible teratogen; CNS effects; kidney and liver damage; blood cell disorders; and skin irritation
Xylene	CNS and cardiovascular effects; kidney and liver damage; upper respiratory and eye irritation