Medical Waste Management: The health care industry in the United States generate
ID: 2074965 • Letter: M
Question
Medical Waste Management: The health care industry in the United States generates roughly 460,000 tons of medical waste annually, and this amournt has been growing recently due to efforts to prevent the spread of infectious diseases [20]. In the past, medical wastes such as contaminated paper and glass have been disposed of through incineration or being buried in a landfill. New toxic air emissions standards and regulations on landfill development have led engineers to investigate altermative methods of dealing with the increasing volumes of medical waste. These new disposal methods place an emphasis on reducing waste volume and keeping emissions from combustion very low or eliminating them all together. Discuss possible environmentally friendly ways of medical waste containment and disposal. Can medical waste be destroyed with a. "zero" air emissions? How? b. Is recycling a possibility in the medical field? Is it a dangerous concept? If not, how about infectious diseases?Explanation / Answer
A. If not sent off-site for disposal, all biological waste should be decontaminated prior to disposal (including level 1 agents). Decontamination of waste results in the destruction or removal of microorganisms to a lower level, such that there is no danger of infection to others.
The two mains options should be autoclave and chemical disinfection. Once the waste is it can be disposed off. Autoclaves use pressurized air and steam to sterilize the waste and then it can be shredded and used as landfills.Whenever possible, biomedical waste must not be mixed with chemical, radioactive or other laboratory trash. Waste Containers should be Segregated based on their type. Fluid waste should be separated from solid waste.Use leak-proof containers which are able to withstand thermal or chemical treatment.
The waste that can't be autoclaved can be fed to the earthworms and biogas system can also be availed to dispose of the human excreta safely.
Incineration of medical waste produces carcinogenic agents like dioxins which causes cancer, birth defects, alterations in the reproductive system, impacts in child development, suppression of the immune system, female reproductive effects, reduced fertility and lower sperm count in males etc..Along with this particulate matter like fly ash and heavy metallic compounds like arsenic, chromium, copper, mercury, and lead; acid gases such as hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride, sulfur dioxides and nitrogen oxides are liberated.
So I don't think Incineration of medical waste is emission free!
B. Yes, I think there is a possibility of recycling of the medical waste and the left is shredded to pieces and can be used for landfill. So there is a decrease in Green House Gases which are released if they are Incinerated.Recycling medical waste reduces consumption of raw material and reduces the volume of the waste materials that must be disposed of in a landfill.
Hope this helps!