Guidelines for the control of industrial wasts. 4. Livestock wastes

ABSTRACT

The satisfactory disposal of industrial effluents is a major problem causing growing concern to public health authorities. Direct discharge of wastes into watercourses may deplete dissolved oxygen, destroy aquatic life, and make the stream unfit for community water supply and other beneficial uses. On the other hand, the discharge of some industrial effluents into municipal sewers may have damaging effects on sewers or overload the sewage treatment works. Public health authorities are also aware of possible long-term physiological effects of some new organic chemicals which are found in industrial effluents, many of which are not removed by conventional treatment processes. Highly persistent detergents, pesticides and other toxic wastes have become serious problems in developed countries and will in time present a similar threat to developing countries.In the developing countries the situation is particularly serious in view of the scarcity of qualified professional personnel (sanitary engineers, chemists and biologists), analytical laboratories, and finances for planning and operating industrial wastes control programmes. It is important to consider the problem not only as it is at present, but also in the light of expected population increase, and of urban and industrial growth. Early government action is required for determining the extent of the problem and for planning and implemeting efficient measures for the control of industrial wastes discharges. This is one of a series of documents prepared by the World Health Organization covering the most prevalent industries in developing countries. The objective of these guidelines is to assist the responsible staff of health agencies and of other regulatory authorities to carry out surveys, interpret laboratory findings, advise industries on inplant remedial measures and disposal of wastes, and make recommendations concerning acceptance of wastes into municipal sewers. The first document in this series describ...