Hazardous Nature Of Medical Waste
What is medical waste?
Medical waste is any kind of waste that contains infectious material (or material that’s potentially infectious). This definition includes waste generated by healthcare facilities like physician’s offices, hospitals, dental practices, laboratories, medical research facilities, and veterinary clinics.
Why Is It a Problem?
Increasing number of hospitals facilities and research, in the field of pharmaceutical, chemicals and life sciences had created a large market for these equipment. The need for this medical waste to be treated, due to its hazardous nature has increased in recent years. These wastes are also considered as among the top sources of mercury and dioxin pollution.
The effects of medical waste on human health and on the environment are astronomical. It could cause severe illness or even death. If medical waste ends up close to wildlife refuges such as parks, lakes and other natural habitats, whole populations of wildlife could be wiped out if the medical waste is pharmaceuticals. Medications, especially those that are brightly colored, are attractive to birds and other animals!
Groundwater is easily contaminated with medical waste that hasn’t been properly treated. Once it gets into the groundwater, it may be ingested by animals and humans. Landfills are made to keep all waste in a controlled area. Some may have liners to keep the waste from seeping into the environment. Throwing sharps away could puncture these liners, which then allows liquids from waste – household and improperly processed medical waste – to seep into the groundwater and soil.
Sometimes the tools and devices doctors use for diagnostic purposes are radioactive. If any disposable tool or device is improperly disposed of, radioactivity will enter the landfills and other areas. The radioactive particles are dangers to humans and animal. Radioactive disease is just one of the diseases caused by medical waste. Other disease humans may contract include AIDS, cholera, typhoid, Hepatitis B and SARS.
Finally, some the pollutants from medical waste may become airborne if the waste is not incinerated at the proper temperature. If these pollutants are carrying airborne diseases, anyone who breathes the pollution could be affected.
What is the best way to handle it then?
Thankfully many laws restrict careless disposal of medical waste, it is highly regulated because of its hazardous effects, if you find medical waste it is best not to touch it, clean it yourself but also very bad if you leave it like that so best way to deal is to call some authority as thy will know which services to call to properly take care of the problem.
No matter where medical waste is processed, it’s ultimately treated by incineration, autoclaving, microwave, biological, or chemical treatment. Incineration, once by far the most popular method, has decreased in usage since the 1990’s, as regulation has forced other methods to come online.
Read more about how this problem is handled on Medgaget and MedWasteServices