Health Care Waste
Have your ever thought about the volume of waste produced by the health care industry and wondered what happens to all that waste? In
Healthcare Waste Stream
?Healthcare waste stream? refers to the all the waste generated by healthcare facilities such as hospitals, medical clinics, and laboratories. The waste stream produced by the healthcare industry is among the most complex of any industry (Shaner, 1999). The World Health Organization (1999) classifies wastes generated by the health care industry into the following categories:
- Infectious waste - waste suspected to contain pathogens. Examples: laboratory cultures; waste from isolation wards; tissues (swabs), materials, or equipment that have been in contact with infected patients; excreta
- Pathological waste - human tissues or fluids. Examples: body parts; blood and other body fluids; fetuses
- Sharp waste. Examples: needles; infusion sets; scalpels; knives; blades; broken glass
- Pharmaceutical waste - waste containing pharmaceuticals. Examples pharmaceuticals that are expired or no longer needed; items contaminated by or containing pharmaceuticals (bottles, boxes
- Genotoxic waste - waste containing substances with genotoxic properties. Examples: waste containing cytostatic drugs (often used in cancer therapy); genotoxic chemicals
- Chemical waste - waste containing chemical substances. Examples: laboratory reagents; film developer; disinfectants that are expired or no longer needed; solvents
- Wastes with high content of heavy metals. Examples: batteries; broken thermometers; blood-pressure gauges; etc.
- Pressurized containers. Examples: gas cylinders; gas cartridges; aerosol cans
- Radioactive waste - waste containing radioactive substances. Examples: unused liquids from radiotherapy or laboratory research; contaminated glassware, packages, or absorbent paper; urine and excreta from patients treated or tested with unsealed radionuclides; sealed sources
What Happens to Health Care Waste?
The destination of health care waste depends on the agency that you work for and the municipality that you live in. If you want to know the specifics for your area you should contact you local health authority and municipality. In general, health care waste is disposed of via landfills, incineration, and waste water treatment plants. A summary that outlines how health care waste is disposed of in the Greater Vancouver Regional District is provided.
Waste Management
Proper Management of health care waste is integral to the promotion of public health and the preservation of the environment for future generations. The World Health Organization provides a set of guidelines to ensure that all waste generated by the health care industry is disposed of in a safe and environmentally sound manner. A summary of these guidelines is provided. The improper management of health care waste has a detrimental impact on the environment that we rely on to sustain life. Many harmful byproducts of health care waste are unknowingly emitted into our air, ground, and water every day. Two of the most highly researched toxic byproducts of health care waste include dioxin and mercury. The environmental effects and public health concerns related to dioxin and mercury are provided.