BIO HAZARDOUS & MEDICAL WASTE

BIO HAZARDOUS and MEDICAL WASTE

MEDICAL WASTE

What are these so-called “bio-medical wastes”?

Medical waste is often described as any solid waste that is generated in the diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of human beings or animals, in research pertaining thereto, or in the production or testing of biologicals, including but not limited to:

General categories of medical or hospital wastes may be grouped as : General trash (recyclable or compostable materials, residuals are disposed of as municipal solid waste); Regulated medical waste or infectious waste (waste that is capable of producing infectious disease, including pathological waste); and Hazardous waste (waste that may cause or significantly contribute to mortality or serious illness, or pose a substantial hazard to human health and the environment if improperly managed or disposed of).

· blood-soaked bandages

· culture dishes and other glassware

· discarded surgical gloves - after surgery

· discarded surgical instruments - scalpels

· needles - used to give shots or draw blood

· cultures, stocks, swabs used to innoculate cultures

· removed body organs - tonsils, appendices, limbs, etc.

· lancets - the little blades the doctor pricks your finger with to get a drop of blood

· animal waste from animals intentionally exposed to pathogens

· bulk human blood and blood products

· pathological waste

· microbiological waste

· sharps

In the past, many hospitals simply dumped all waste streams together, from reception-area trash to operating room waste, and burned them in incinerators. However, incineration has been found to be the leading source of highly toxic dioxin, furans, mercury, lead, and other dangerous air pollutants. These emissions have serious adverse consequences on worker safety, public health, and the environment. Dioxins, for example, have been linked to cancer, immune system disorders, diabetes, birth defects, and other health effects. Medical waste incinerators are a leading source of dioxins and mercury in the environment.

These recent developments have moved policy makers and sectors of society to push for the banning of incineration. In other words, incinerator is NOT considered an option for proper disposal and management of bio-medical wastes

BIO HAZARDOUS

If improperly disposed of, Hazardous Products can: Cause a fire or release toxic fumes, pose a health risk for collectors, and contaminate the groundwater

supply and the environment.

Used oil, car batteries, fluorescent light bulbs, paints, computer, and computer components

A/C Thermostats Dry, Cleaning Solvents, Glue (Solvent Based) Photographic Chemicals,

Aerosols, Fertilizers, Gun Cleaning Solvents, Pool Chemicals,

Ammunition, Fiberglass,, Epoxy Herbicides/Pesticides, Propane Tanks,

Anti-freeze, Flares, Insecticides, Radiator Fluid,

Artist’s Paint, Medium Fluorescent Light Bulbs, Metal Polish with Solvent, Rat Poison

Batteries, Fuel, Oil, Moth Balls, Refrigerator Capacitors,

Car Wax with Solvent, Fungicides, Motor Oil/Oily Rags, Freon and Transformers,

Cleaning Compounds, Floor Care Products, Old Medicines, Stain /Varnish,

Diesel Fuel, Gasoline/Gasoline Cans, Paint/PaintThinner/Stripper/ Primer Wood Preservatives

Computers, Laptop Computer/Palm Pilots, Radios, Televisions

Computer Components, Microwave Ovens, Scanners, Toasters

Copiers, Monitors, Stereo Components, VCR/CD/DVD Players

Fax Machines, Printers, Telephones/Cell phones

A substance is hazardous if it is:

TOXIC: directly or indirectly poisons living things, IGNITABLE: capable of catching fire, CORROSIVE: capable of chemically eroding another substance

such as cloth, metal or skin, REACTIVE: capable of participating in a chemical interaction or transformation, CARCINOGENIC: capable of causing cancer.