The Risk Of Medical Waste
Medical waste is any solid waste that is generated in the analysis, treatment, or immunization of human or animals, for research or in the production or testing of anything biological. This includes bandages, syringes, anything biologically soiled, bandages, gloves, and instruments. For domestic homes, it is recommended that all medicines be handed over to the police department to be disposed of properly. Flushing or sending to the landfills causes for environmental contamination. For the hypodermic needles, the EPA suggests to call the local health department and go over the options for disposal with them. When you go in for an examination, it is common to see an orange can in the room labeled as bio waste which is where these same types of things are discarded in the doctor's office, but where does this waste go once the can is full?
In 1988 after a large increase of medical wastes washed up on the shores which caused for health and safety concerns, congress passed the Medical Waste Tracking Act. Record keeping and a tracking system was implemented in order to reduce the potential of infectious disease. Medical facilities can dispose of the medical wastes themselves, or a service can dispose of it for them. Regardless, strict record keeping is a must or fines and penalties can be imposed, and how they dispose of the wastes has strict requirements as well. Today over 90 percent of infectious clinical waste is incinerated. According to the WHO, about 80 percent of the medical waste is like domestic trash, however the remaining 20 percent is considered hazardous materials. About 1 percent of the hazardous waste are sharp needles, 15 percent being anatomic, and the remaining 3 percent consists of pharmaceuticals. Americans generate 13 pounds a year per person of hazardous medical wastes!
Right now the U.N. is making a world wide effort to get other countries to adopt safe medical waste disposal plans. An United Nations investigator, Calin Georgescu, states that many nations pay little or no attention at all to their tons of clinical garbage. He goes on to say that many nations are found illegally dumping and shipping the waste to other countries. The WHO says millions of hepatitis and tens of thousands cases of HIV can be prevented every year if sharp needles were disposed of properly instead of getting reused without sterilization. In developing countries, it is common to scavenge and reuse syringes in back door health care establishments. As well, many cultures find it offensive and unethical to dispose of a life saving syringe and they often reuse them.
