What is Considered a Medical Waste?
4/2/2021
Medical waste is a pretty broad label and can be fitted to quite an array of different types of waste. Identifying whether the waste could be classified as medical waste or not is pretty important since there are some rules and regulations to disposing of waste that may contain pathogens (viruses, fungi, parasites, bacteria).
If not adhered to, that could only affect not just the people around but also the environment.
That said, the categories for medical waste may include:
Infectious waste
These are the waste that is suspected to contain any type of pathogen. Prime examples of infectious waste include laboratory cultures, isolation wards trash, swabs, and materials that came in contact with patients with an infectious disease.
Chemical waste
Waste that falls into the chemical waste categories includes chemical substances like expired disinfectants and the like.
Genotoxic waste
This refers to waste that is used in cancer treatment like cytostatic drugs or any substance that may contain chemicals with genotoxic properties.
Radioactive waste
This would include radioactive materials such as chemicals used in radiotherapy and also materials that have been greatly exposed to radiation.
Pathological waste
Pathological waste refers to human fluids or tissues like blood, severed body parts, or even fetuses.
Sharps
This would include sharp materials such as scalpels, needles, and any other materials that may puncture or tear the waste bag.
Pharmaceutical waste
Expired medicine and medicine containers will fall into this category.
Waste that contains a high level of heavy metals
Materials with heavy metals such as broken thermometers, batteries, and so on would fit into this category.
If not adhered to, that could only affect not just the people around but also the environment.
That said, the categories for medical waste may include:
Infectious waste
These are the waste that is suspected to contain any type of pathogen. Prime examples of infectious waste include laboratory cultures, isolation wards trash, swabs, and materials that came in contact with patients with an infectious disease.
Chemical waste
Waste that falls into the chemical waste categories includes chemical substances like expired disinfectants and the like.
Genotoxic waste
This refers to waste that is used in cancer treatment like cytostatic drugs or any substance that may contain chemicals with genotoxic properties.
Radioactive waste
This would include radioactive materials such as chemicals used in radiotherapy and also materials that have been greatly exposed to radiation.
Pathological waste
Pathological waste refers to human fluids or tissues like blood, severed body parts, or even fetuses.
Sharps
This would include sharp materials such as scalpels, needles, and any other materials that may puncture or tear the waste bag.
Pharmaceutical waste
Expired medicine and medicine containers will fall into this category.
Waste that contains a high level of heavy metals
Materials with heavy metals such as broken thermometers, batteries, and so on would fit into this category.