We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Evaluating and Managing the Effects of Improper Medical Waste Disposal
Summary
This paper evaluated the public health and environmental consequences of improper medical waste disposal, reviewing evidence of pathogen spread, chemical contamination, and plastic pollution from inadequately managed clinical waste. It recommended strengthened regulatory frameworks and treatment infrastructure for healthcare waste.
COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a global pandemic that infected and killed millions around the world. Scientists are working around the clock to find cures and ways to prevent this disease. Due to this, personal protection equipment (PPE) has become one of the most valued resources in the healthcare industry. It protects doctors and other frontline workers from the virus and is a crucial necessity for all those working with COVID-19 patients. The world is worried about the shortage of these PPE kits as factories race to manufacture more protective equipment, however, not many are concerned about the environmental factors that come with the PPE that is used immensely around the world every day. PPE kits are made out of one main material, polypropylene, which doesn’t degrade. PPE is not recyclable or biodegradable, therefore it needs to be treated as waste. Most are disposed of in landfills, creating a bigger threat to our environment. Unsafe recycling of PPE is also a threat to human health, increasing the risk of transmitting the infection. One solution is educating the public about the proper disposal of medical waste and enforcing environmental-friendly health care with optimal priority.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Effects of Mismanagement of Medical and Plastic Waste in Pre and During COVID-19 Outbreak
This review examined how mismanagement of medical and plastic waste — a problem worsened by COVID-19 — harms the environment and human health, particularly for healthcare workers. Improperly disposed PPE, sharps, and plastic packaging create pollution hazards and increase disease risk. The authors call for improved waste management infrastructure to address pandemic-era plastic waste surges.
Impact of Waste Management on Public Health and Environmental Sustainability
This review analyzes major waste streams including municipal, industrial, biomedical, electronic, and radioactive waste and evaluates waste management practices and their environmental and health impacts. The study discusses how improper waste handling contributes to contamination including microplastic pollution, with unmanaged landfills and open burning releasing toxins linked to adverse health outcomes.
Public and Environmental Health Effects of Plastic Wastes Disposal: A Review
This review examines the public and environmental health effects of plastic waste disposal, covering the full lifecycle from production through disposal and environmental accumulation. Researchers found that improper waste management leads to widespread microplastic generation, chemical leaching, and contamination of air, water, and soil. The study highlights that the health effects extend beyond marine ecosystems to include human communities, particularly those near waste disposal sites.
Medical waste management: Treatment, recycling and disposal options
This review covers treatment, recycling, and disposal options for medical waste, which comprises a heterogeneous mixture of conventional and hazardous materials generated by healthcare facilities. The authors assess the environmental and public health implications of different management approaches and identify best practices.
Biomedical Waste Management in Bangladesh: A Critical Review of Environmental Burden and Public Health Implications
This review examined biomedical waste management in Bangladesh, finding inadequate segregation, treatment, and disposal are creating serious public health and environmental risks. Disposable medical products contribute to microplastic pollution, and the authors called for improved regulation, healthcare worker training, and sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics.