can u see the amount of toxins in trash with a powder/solution?

Question

me & my science group want to see the different toxins
in different types of trash! &&compare them!
how do we do that, find the kinds of toxins?
can we buy a liquid or solution2test the toxins
& how bad the toxins are. to the enviroment!

types of trashes are-plastics,paper,&&trash.lol.
help please.
we need to know this stuff by MONDAY! the 18th
help

Answer 1

There are no powders or solutions that will help you see toxins in trash. Maybe another way to do your project is to come up with categories of items in the trash that are known to have certain types of toxins. For example:

-bacteria & viruses - found in pampers, rotten food, used kleenex, etc.

-petroleum-based pollutants - plastics, styrofoam

-toxic metals - batteries, electronic devices

-toxic liquids - small amounts of soap, shampoo, detergents, cleaning solutions, etc. that are left in bottles when thrown out.

After coming up with the categories, then you can look up what types of problems are caused by something like shampoo, bacteria, metals, etc

Answer 2

I like Bob's answer in general. Let me add some specifics:

1. Break down your trash into the specific components. I recommend separating it into paper, plastic, metal, glass, inorganic (rock, bricks, stuff that won't burn) organic (food, diapers, yard waste), and (this is KEY) household hazardous waste (or HHW for short, examples are things like paint, lighter fluid, bleach, cleaners, stuff found in the garage or under the sink).

2. Trash is not, as Bob suggests, really too toxic laying there in the trash can. It is what happens to trash AFTER it is thrown away that causes problems. If you bury it, what seeps out as it rots away? If you burn it, what is given off with the smoke? and so on.

3. For each of trash components I suggest (paper, plastic, metal, glass, etc), there are a huge number of articles you can find on-line about the toxic chemicals that are contained in these items, or can be given off when they are buried or burned. This is where you'll need to do more homework to gather up these data.

4. Off the top of my head, this is what I'd say you'll find, in general:

Paper contains a lot of heavy metals, particularly lead and chromium, and particularly in colored and glossy papers.

Plastic is actually quite safe, except when you burn it. Just about an unlimited amount of toxins can be released from burning common plastics.

Metal obviously contains metals, which seep out of metallic items when they are left buried in damp or wet conditions.

Glass is almost entirely safe. Nothing much comes out of it when it's buried, and it can't burn.

Inorganic is much the same as glass.

Organic waste is surprisingly toxic. In addition to a number of pollutants that can seep out if it's buried, it can also make toxic smoke when it is burned. Interestingly, another problem you get with buried organic waste is that it generates methane and other dangerous gases which can be explosive or poisonous!

HHW is where you will find some "eye openers". Bleach and other cleaners are full of toxic compounds, as are most lighter fluids and solvents. Batteries of any kind are also quite toxic, particularly the rechargeable kinds or the little ones you see in watches and hearing aids. Oil and other flammable liquids are another source of toxics, whether you bury them or burn them.