Biomedical Waste
4/24/2019
What is It?
Biomedical waste is any garbage that contains human tissue such as blood. It’s usually discarded from operating theatres, mortuaries, doctor’s rooms or other medical facilities. It also includes soiled linen and patient garments that are being disposed of.
Classification
The World Health Organization classifies different types of biomedical waste.
- Infectious waste. This includes any item contaminated with bodily fluids as well as infectious cultures from laboratories.
- Sharps. These include used needles, scalpel blades, suture materials and more.
- Pathological waste. Human organs, body parts and tissues. Contaminated animal carcasses or parts.
- Pressurized containers. For example, oxygen cylinders.
- Pharmaceuticals. Unused medicines and vaccines.
- Chemical waste. This would be heavy metals like mercury found in medical devices, disinfectants, chemicals used in laboratories.
- Radioactive waste. This would include material used in radiotherapy for diagnosis and treatment.
- Cytotoxic waste. Chemotherapy drugs would fall under this category.
- General waste. Any garbage posing a hazard.
Management
It’s vitally important that biomedical wastes are managed correctly because their effect on the environment and on human health is high. It needs to be correctly treated before disposal. It depends on how it’s been classified, but it is often burned or neutralized in another manner. Contact us if you are concerned in any way or are looking for a reasonably priced San Diego medical waste disposal company.