Medical Waste Disposal: Hazards

It is a problem enough that waste all over the world is getting difficult to manage. The surge in the use of PPEs and disposable masks added to the already increasing medical waste coming from hospitals and clinics around the world. Amidst all these, medical waste disposal continues to be one of the biggest hazards in the community.  Kinds of WastesUnlike laboratories, hospitals contribute little chemical wastes that can be radioactive. But, other wastes that are thrown into landfills increase the risk posed to many. ● Toxic Pharmaceutical Waste● Sharps ● Infectious WasteThe Hazard Behind Improper Waste DisposalSharps include needles from syringes and scalpels. Lucky if these wastes are segregated accordingly. As they are placed in sites, scavengers can get hurt and get contaminated by diseases. Countries without clear systems in waste disposal often leave these types of wastes leaving the public exposed to the toxins that contaminate the air or the waters. Incinerators do not solve the waste disposal problems and their hazards efficiently either. The toxic ashes end up in the soil and sometimes bodies of water. More alarming is the reuse of syringes and other devices. Without proper monitoring, these medical devices go into the hands who maliciously use them. Proper Waste ManagementThe irony of how waste from hospitals in turn causes diseases among those exposed to them alarms agencies such as WHO. Efforts around the globe are continuously supported by organizations but hospitals, doctors, and patients alike need to work together to minimize the hazards brought by Medical Waste.