Clinical solid waste management practices and its impact on human health and environment - A review

Journal Article · Fri Apr 15 00:00:00 EDT 2011 · Waste Management

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2010.11.008· OSTI ID:21550360

Hossain, Md Sohrab ^[1]; Santhanam, Amutha ^[2]; Nik Norulaini, N A ^[3]; Omar, A.K. Mohd, ^[1]

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1. Department of Environmental Technology, School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang (Malaysia)
2. Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang (Malaysia)
3. School of Distance Education, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang (Malaysia)

Research highlights: > Appropriate waste management technology for safe handling and disposal of clinical solid waste. > Infectious risk assessment on unsafe handling of clinical solid waste. > Recycling-reuse program of clinical solid waste materials. > Effective sterilization technology to reduce exposure of infectious risk. - Abstract: The management of clinical solid waste (CSW) continues to be a major challenge, particularly, in most healthcare facilities of the developing world. Poor conduct and inappropriate disposal methods exercised during handling and disposal of CSW is increasing significant health hazards and environmental pollution due to the infectious nature of the waste. This article summarises a literature review into existing CSW management practices in the healthcare centers. The information gathered in this paper has been derived from the desk study of open literature survey. Numerous researches have been conducted on the management of CSW. Although, significant steps have been taken on matters related to safe handling and disposal of the clinical waste, but improper management practice is evident from the point of initial collection to the final disposal. In most cases, the main reasons of the mismanagement of CSW are the lack of appropriate legislation, lack of specialized clinical staffs, lack of awareness and effective control. Furthermore, most of the healthcare centers of the developing world have faced financial difficulties and therefore looking for cost effective disposal methods of clinical waste. This paper emphasizes to continue the recycle-reuse program of CSW materials after sterilization by using supercritical fluid carbon dioxide (SF-CO2) sterilization technology at the point of initial collection. Emphasis is on the priority to inactivate the infectious micro-organisms in CSW. In that case, waste would not pose any threat to healthcare workers. The recycling-reuse program would be carried out successfully with the non-specialized clinical staffs. Therefore, the adoption of SF-CO2 sterilization technology in management of clinical solid waste can reduce exposure to infectious waste, decrease labor, lower costs, and yield better compliance with regulatory. Thus healthcare facilities can both save money and provide a safe environment for patients, healthcare staffs and clinical staffs.

• OSTI ID: 21550360
• Journal Information: Waste Management, Vol. 31, Issue 4; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2010.11.008; PII: S0956-053X(10)00571-4; Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; ISSN 0956-053X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES, AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
CARBON DIOXIDE
COST
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ENVIRONMENT
HEALTH HAZARDS
HOSPITALS
LEGISLATION
MEDICAL PERSONNEL
POLLUTION
PUBLIC HEALTH
RECYCLING
REVIEWS
RISK ASSESSMENT
SOLID WASTES
STERILIZATION
WASTE MANAGEMENT
BUILDINGS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
DOCUMENT TYPES
HAZARDS
MANAGEMENT
MEDICAL ESTABLISHMENTS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERSONNEL
WASTES