Healthcare waste: A Danger for life

 Healthcare waste: A Danger for life

By: Missy Martinez

Healthcare waste is a discarded waste from hospitals that is no longer in need or has already been used for medical purposes. These are hazardous chemicals, bodily fluid waste, infectious waste, etc. Improper disposal of this can harm the air we breathe because of how the toxic chemicals can easily spread in the air. This will also be a danger to humankind and animals that can affect the landmasses where sources of food can be found. It will also lead to infectious diseases that may or hard to treat. Medical field Facilities should practice ways and strategize on how to properly throw them for the environment to be a safe place for all.

 Photo by Salman Zafar

The most efficient and proper way to dispose of Medical waste:

Autoclaving

  • Which is the process of steaming the object for it to be sterilized. However, this process is only for microbiological waste.

                                                     Photo by:  Michael Wegener                                   

Wegener, M. (2022, October 11). 5 Causes of Autoclave Sterilization Failure. All States M.E.D. https://www.allstatesmed.com/blogs/medical-equipment-reviews-sales-repair-service/5-causes-of-autoclave-sterilization-failure

Chemical Disinfection

  • To properly dispose of chemical waste, the use of chlorine can disinfect contaminated products.

Photo by: Informa Markets

COVID-19 pandemic drives improved disinfection of hospital areas. (2020, November 4). Omnia Health Insights. https://insights.omnia-health.com/show-news/covid-19-pandemic-drives-improved-disinfection-hospital-areas

Microwaving

  • The process of microwaving has a similar technology to irradiative sterilization. The waste is shredded and mixed with water until it is heated for the elements present to be neutralized.

Photo by: Virtual Expo Group

Microwave waste treatment system - All medical device manufacturers. (n.d.). https://www.medicalexpo.com/medical-manufacturer/microwave-waste-treatment-system-41611.html


Incineration


  • This process is done for pathological waste and pharmaceutical waste.


Photo by: Vertisa

A., & A. (2023, August 10). Efficiency and Controversy of Medical Waste Incinerators. Vertisa Medical Waste Technologies - Vertisa Medical Waste Sterilization Systems. https://www.vertisa.com.tr/efficiency-and-controversy-of-medical-waste-incinerators/



Sources:

Health-care waste. (2018, February 8). https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/health-care-waste

(Photo)

Zafar, S., & Zafar, S. (2022, September 18). Challenges in Hazardous Medical Waste Management. BioEnergy Consult. https://www.bioenergyconsult.com/challenges-in-hazardous-medical-waste-management/

Medical Waste Disposal Methods. (n.d.). https://blog.idrenvironmental.com/medical-waste-disposal-methods

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