PREFACE

The world is generating more and more waste and hospitals and health centres
are no exception. Medical waste can be infectious, contain toxic chemicals and
pose contamination risks to both people and the environment. If patients are to
receive health care and recover in safe surroundings, waste must be disposed of
safely.
The issue of biomedical waste management has assumed great significance in
recent times particularly in view of the rapid upsurge of HIV infection.
Government of India has made proper handling and disposal of this category of
waste a statutory requirement with the publication of gazette notification no.
460 dated 27 July 1998. The provisions are equally applicable to our service
hospitals and hence there is a need for all the service medical, dental, nursing
officers, other paramedical staff and safaiwalas to be well aware of the basic
principles of handling, treatment and disposal of biomedical waste. The present
article deals with such definitions, categories, basic issues and principles of
handling and disposal of biomedical waste.
What is Biomedical Waste?
Biomedical waste or hospital waste
is any kind of waste containing
infectious (or potentially
infectious) materials. It may also
include waste associated with the
generation of biomedical waste that
visually appears to be of medical or
laboratory origin (e.g. packaging,
unused bandages, infusion kits
etc.), as well research laboratory
waste containing biomolecules or
organisms that are mainly restricted
from environmental release.
Disposal of this waste is an environmental concern, as it could
potentially lead to the spread of infectious disease. The most
common danger for humans is the infection which also affects
other living organisms in the region. Daily exposure to the wastes
(landfills) leads to accumulation of harmful substances or
microbes in the person's body.
 SOURCES

MAJOR SOURCES MINOR SOURCES

❖ Hospitals ❖Clinics
❖Labs ❖ Dental clinics
❖ Research center ❖ Home care
❖Animal research ❖ Cosmetics clinics
❖ Blood banks ❖ Paramedics
❖ Nursing homes ❖ Funeral services
❖ Mortuaries ❖ Institutions
❖Autospy centres
Classification Of Biomedical Waste
 INFECTIOUS WASTE
Infectious waste is any
waste that poses the
threat of infection to
humans. This can
include human/animal
tissue, blood-soaked
bandages, surgical
gloves, cultures, stocks,
or swabs that were
used to inoculate
cultures.
 PATHOLOGICAL WASTE
Pathological waste is
anatomical waste, which
consists of identifiable
human or animal body
parts, healthy or
otherwise. Material
removed from the body in
surgery and fluids and
solids removed in
autopsies is pathological
waste, with the exception
of teeth.
 SHARPS
Sharps are objects sharp enough to cut or puncture the skin, e.g. knives,
scalpels and other blades, infusion sets, needles, hypodermic needles, saws,
broken glass, nails, etc. They can transmit infections directly into the
bloodstream. Sharps are generally treated as highly hazardous medical waste
regardless of whether they are contaminated or not.
 CHEMICAL WASTE
Chemical
waste consists
of discarded
solid, liquid
and gaseous
chemicals
typically from
machines,
batteries and
disinfectants.
 GENOTOXIC WASTE
Geotoxic waste is highly hazardous and may have
❑ Mutagenic
❑ Teratogenic and
❑ Carcinogenic properties.
 PHARMACEUTICAL WASTE
Pharmaceutical Waste is
defined as any chemical or
biological product
intended for use in the
diagnosis, treatment, or
prevention of disease or
injury (of human or
animal) as well as any
biological or chemical
product that may
influence/affect the
function or structure of a
human or animal's body
WASTES WITH HIGH CONTENT
OF HEAVY METALS
It represents a
subcategory of
hazardous chemical
waste and is usually
highly toxic. It includes
❑ Batteries
❑ Broken
thermometers
❑ Blood pressure
gauges .
 PRESSURIZED CONTAINERS
Many types of gas used in health care, and are often stored in pressurized
cylinders, catridges and aerosol cans.

Most common gases used in health care includes:

❑ Anesthetic gases
❑ Ethylene oxide
❑ Oxygen
❑ Compressed air
 RADIOACTIVE WASTE

It includes the X-rays, alpha- and

beta- particles, and gamma-rays
emitted by radioactive
substances.
❖ Alpha-particles are heavy
particles and include protons
and neutrons.
❖ They have low penetration
power and are hazardous to
humans, mostly when inhaled
or ingested.
❖ Beta-particles are negatively
or positively charged
electrons with significant
ability to penetrate human
skin, they affect health
through ionization of
intracellular proteins and
proteinaceous components

❖Gamma rays are

electromagnetic radiations
similar to X-rays but to shorter
wavelength. Their penetrating
power is high and lead
shielding is required to reduce
their intensity.
 NEED FOR BIOMEDICAL WASTE
MANAGEMENT
Improper management of waste generated
in health care facilities causes a direct
health impact on the community, the health
care workers and on the environment Every
day, relatively large amount of potentially
infectious and hazardous waste are
generated in the health care hospitals and
facilities around the world. Indiscriminate
disposal of BMW or hospital waste and
exposure to such waste possess serious
threat to environment and to human health
that requires specific treatment and
management prior to its final disposal.
SEGREGRATION OF BIOMEDICAL
WASTE IN COLOUR CODED BAGS
 STEPS FOR BIOMEDICAL WASTE
MANAGEMENT
SEGREGATION

COLLECTION AND
STORAGE

TRANSPORTATION

TREATMENT AND
DISPOSAL
ALTERNATIVE BIOMEDICAL
WASTE DISPOSAL METHODS

WET AND DRY

CHEMICAL
INCINERATION THERMAL
DISINFECTION
TREATMENT

MICROWAVE
LAND DISPOSAL INERTIZATION
IRRADIATION