A PRESENTATION ON HANDLING AND MANAGEMENT OF HAZARDOUS AND BIOMEDICAL WASTE

BY-

JORALI LONGMAILAI (DC2011BTE0208)

ANAMIKA DEBBARMA (DC2011BTE0127)

INTRODUCTION

Waste and wastes are terms for

unwanted materials. Examples

include municipal solid waste

(household

trash/refuse), wastewater (such

as sewage, which contains

bodily wastes, or surface

runoff), radioactive waste, and

others.

Waste management is

the collection, transport, process

ing or disposal, managing and

monitoring of waste materials.

The term usually relates to

materials produced by human

activity, and the process is

generally undertaken to reduce

their effect on health,

the environment or aesthetics.

HAZARDOUS

WASTE

Hazardous wastes can take the form of solids, liquids, sludge, or

contained gases, and they are generated primarily by chemical

production, manufacturing, and other industrial activities.

BIOMEDICAL WASTE

According to Biomedical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules,

1998 of India “Any waste which is generated during the diagnosis,

treatment or immunization of human beings or animals or in research

activities pertaining thereto or in the production or testing of

biological”.

LITERATURE REVIEW

1. Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices about Biomedical Waste Management

among Healthcare Personnel- A Cross-sectional Study (April-June 2011).

By Vanesh Mathur, S. Dwivedi, M. A. Hassan, R. P Mishra.

The objective was to assess knowledge, attitude and practices of doctors,

nurses, laboratory technicians, and sanitary staff regarding biomedical

waste management.

2. Biomedical Waste Management- A case study of Y.C.M Hospital, Pimpri,

Chinchwad, Pune (June 24-25 2011).

By Amar Dhere.

This paper makes an attempt by giving a detailed background on the

standard process of biomedical management and the provision of relevant

law.

CLASSIFICATION

HAZARDOUS

WASTE

BIOMEDICAL

WASTE

Toxic Waste

Reactive Waste

Ignitable Waste

Corrosive Waste

Infectious Waste

Radioactive Waste

Solid medical Waste

Liquid medical Waste

Isolation Waste

Household waste(domestic

waste)

HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT

Under the management process, following proceedings take

place:-

Transportation of hazardous waste-

Hazardous waste generated at a particular site often requires

transport to an approved treatment, storage, or disposal

facility. Because of potential threats to public safety and the

environment, transportation is given special attention by

governmental agencies

Transport vehicles used-

Hazardous waste is generally transported by truck over public

highways. Only a very small amount is transported by rail, and

almost none is moved by air or inland waterway.

Improper hazardous-waste storage or disposal frequently contaminates surface and

groundwater supplies. In an effort to remove existing problems and to prevent future

harm from hazardous waste, government closely regulates the practice of

hazardous-waste management.

The Manifest System-

The manifest system monitors the journey of hazardous waste from

its point of origin to the point of final disposal. The manifest system

helps to eliminate the problem of midnight dumping. It also provides

a means for determining the type and quantity of hazardous waste

being generated, as well as the recommended emergency procedures

in case of an accidental spill. A manifest is a record-keeping

document that must be prepared by the generator of the hazardous

waste, such as a chemical manufacturer. The generator has primary

responsibility for the ultimate disposal of the waste and must give

the manifest, along with the waste itself, to a licensed waste

transporter.

HANDLING PROCESS OF HAZARDOUS WASTE

Under the handling process of hazardous waste, following processes include—

Treatment :- Hazardous waste can be treated by chemical, thermal,

biological, and physical methods.

1. Chemical methods include ion exchange, precipitation, oxidation and

reduction and neutralization.

2. Thermal method is high-temperature incineration which not only can

detoxify certain organic wastes but also can destroy them.

3. Biological treatment of certain organic wastes, such as those from the

petroleum industry, is also an option.

4. Physical methods include evaporation, sedimentation, floatation, and

filtration.

Surface Storage and Land

Disposal:-

Hazardous wastes that are

not destroyed by

incineration or other

chemical processes need

to be disposed properly.

For most such wastes,

land disposal is the

ultimate destination.

Two basic methods of

land disposal include

land filling and

underground injection.

REMEDIAL ACTION OF HAZARDOUS WASTE

Remediation means to completely remove all the waste material

from the site and transport it to another location for treatment and

proper disposal.

This off-site solution is usually the most expensive option.

An alternative is on-site remediation, which reduces the production

of leachate and lessens the chance of groundwater contamination.

On-site remediation may include temporary removal of the

hazardous waste, construction of a secure landfill on the same site,

and proper replacement of the waste.

BIOMEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT

Biomedical waste management has recently emerged as an issue of

major concern not only to hospitals, nursing home authorities but also

to the environment.

The bio-medical wastes

generated from health

care units depend upon

a number of factors such

as waste management

methods, type of health

care units, occupancy of

healthcare units,

specialization of

healthcare units, ratio of

reusable items in use,

availability of

infrastructure and

resources etc.

SOURCES OF BIOMEDICAL WASTE

Major Sources:

Hospitals, health

centers, Medical

colleges and

research centers,

paramedic services.

Minor Sources:

Physicians, dentists’

clinics, Animal

houses, Blood

donation camps,

Vaccination centers.

PROBLEMS RELATING TO BIOMEDICAL WASTE

Disposing of waste in a haphazard, improper and indiscriminate

manner.

Lack of segregation practices.

Inappropriate segregation.

Inadequate management.

NEED OF BIOMEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT IN

HOSPITALS

1. INJURIES

2. INFECTIONS

3. DRUGS

BIOMEDICAL WASTE CAUSING ENVIRONMENTAL

HAZARDS

1. TOXIC EMISSIONS

2. INDISCRIMINATE DISPOSAL

3. LEACHATE

BIOMEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT PROCESS

• Waste collection

• Segregation

• Transportation and storage

• Treatment & Disposal

• Transport to final disposal site

• Final disposal

BIOMEDICAL WASTE TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL

1. Incineration Technology

2. Non-Incineration Technology

3. Autoclaving

4. Chemical Methods

5. Microwave Irradiation

6. Plasma Pyrolysis

RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING

MANAGEMENT OF BIOMEDICAL WASTE

For the use of incinerator; training should be given to some number of

persons from staff.

Every hospital should have special boxes to use as dustbin for bio-

medical waste.

Bio-medical waste should not be mixed with other waste of Municipal

Corporation.

Private hospitals should also be allowed to use incinerator, which is

installed, in govt. hospital. For this purpose a specific fee can be

charged from private hospitals.

RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING

MANAGEMENT OF BIOMEDICAL WASTE

Special vehicle i.e. bio-medical waste vehicle should be started to collect

waste from private hospitals and private medical clinics and carry it up to

the main incinerator.

As provided by bio-medical waste rules, the whole of the waste should be

fragmented into colors due to their hazardous nature.

Either judicial powers should be given to the management board or

special court should be established in the matters of environment pollution

for imposing fines and awarding damages etc.

Housekeeping staff should wear protective devices such as gloves, face

masks, gowned, while handling the waste.

CONCLUSION

The segregation of waste at source is a vital step.

Reduction, reuse and recycling should be considered in proper

perspectives.

Innovative and radical measures should be taken up to negate

the lack of civic concern on the part of hospitals and various

waste generating sites.

Measures to remove slackness in government implementation

of rules, as waste generation imposes direct and indirect costs

on society.

The challenge before us is to scientifically manage growing

quantities of hazardous and biomedical wastes that go beyond

past practices.

REFERENCE

Google Books-

Fundamentals of Nursing- B T Basavanthappa

Encyclopedia Britannica and Wikipedia-

Hazardous Waste Management

Scholars Article

Papers-

1. Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices about Biomedical Waste

Management among Healthcare Personnel- A Cross-sectional

Study (April-June 2011).

By Vanesh Mathur, S. Dwivedi, M. A. Hassan, R. P Mishra.

2. Biomedical Waste Management- A case study of Y.C.M

Hospital, Pimpri, Chinchwad, Pune (June 24-25 2011).

By Amar Dhere.

THANK YOU