MEDICAL POLLUTION CONTROL COMMITTEE

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

Public Health Risk of Hazards HCW    |    Sources of BMW

According to the WHO, the global life expectancy is increasing year after year. However, deaths due to infectious disease are increasing. A study conducted by the WHO in 1996, reveals that more than 50,000 people die everyday from infectious diseases. One of the causes for the increase in infectious diseases is improper waste management. Blood, body fluids and body secretions which are constituents of bio-medical waste harbour most of the viruses, bacteria and parasites that cause infection. This passes via a number of human contacts, all of whom are potential ‘recipients’ of the infection. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and hepatitis viruses spearhead an extensive list of infections and diseases documented to have spread through bio-medical waste. Tuberculosis, pneumonia, diarrhoeal diseases, tetanus, whooping cough etc., are other common diseases spread due to improper waste management. 

Occupational health hazards: The health hazards due to improper waste management can not only affect the occupants in institutions, but also spread in the vicinity of the

institutions. Occupational health concerns exist for janitorial and laundry workers, nurses, emergency medical personnel, and refuse workers. Injuries from sharps and exposure to harmful chemical waste and radioactive waste also causes health hazards to employees in institutions generating bio-medical waste. The problem of occupational health hazards due to bio-medical waste is not publicized as there is lack of information. Hence, the Bio-Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000 prescribes a form under schedule VI to report such incidences in order to develop a database.  There is plenty of scope for research in this field. Proper management of waste can solve the problem of occupational hazards to a large extent.  

Hazards to the general public: The general public’s health can also be adversely affected by bio-medical waste. Improper practices such as dumping of bio-medical waste in municipal dustbins, open spaces, water bodies etc., leads to the spread of diseases. Emissions from incinerators and open burning also leads to exposure to harmful gases which can cause cancer and respiratory diseases. Exposure to radioactive waste can in the waste stream can also cause serious health hazards. An often-ignored area is the increase of in-home healthcare activities. An increase in the number of diabetics who inject themselves with insulin, home nurses taking care of terminally ill patients etc., all generate bio-medical waste which can cause health hazards. 

Bio-medical waste can cause health hazards to animals and birds. Plastic waste can choke animals which scavenge on openly dumped waste. Injuries from sharps are a common feature affecting animals. Harmful chemicals such as dioxins and furans can cause serious health hazards to animals and birds. Certain heavy metals can affect the reproductive health of the animals.