MEDICAL POLLUTION CONTROL COMMITTEE

Hazardous Health Care Waste      |     Generation of BMW      |     Hazardous of BMW

Public Health Risk of Hazards HCW    |    Sources of BMW

Bio-medical waste  is   any  waste  generated  in  the  process  of  diagnosis,  treatment  or  immunization of human beings or animals,  research  activities,  production  or  testing  of  biological.  It  shall  be  the duty of the occupier to take all steps to ensure  that  such  waste  is  handled without any adverse effects on community health and environment. It is estimated that only 6% of the waste stream is infectious that needs to be disinfected. 2% of the hospital waste stream is pathological waste and shall be burned in a crematorium or other incinerator. The rest of the wastes, more than 90%, can be handled in the same way  we  handle  solid  wastes - by reducing, re-using, and re-cycling. Waste collection efficiency in Indian cities range from 50% to 90%. Hazardous wastes pose a risk to humans, animals, vegetations and the environment. Examples include materials that  might  be radio-active, explosive, flammable, infectious or toxic at variable degrees and in all realms of environment. It is ironic  that  those  institutions  engaged  in  healing  the  sick and  caring  community health are unintentionally contributing significantly  to  the  proliferation  of  some of the most toxic compounds known. One of the reasons why the hospitals have not  been leaders in preventing pollution is that they are not monitored or controlled by any statutory rule or regulation with respect  to  the  waste  management.