Study on the Management of Hospital Wastes in Alexandria | ||
| Journal of High Institute of Public Health | ||
| Article 9, Volume 29, Issue 3, July 1999, Pages 475-486 | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/jhiph.1999.393677 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Rim Hussein; Olfat El-Sebaie; Alia Hanafy; Wafaa El-Shal | ||
| Environmental Health Department, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Egypt | ||
| Abstract | ||
| A proper management of hazardous wastes are needed to protect public health and the environment. Among the most hazardous wastes arising are the health care wastes. As their amounts increase, the need for a management system for their handling and disposal also increase. The risks caused by hospital waste mismanagement could be either health hazards inside the hospital or environmental risks to the community. The present study aims at determining the quantities of wastes generated by hospitals in Alexandria, to analyze these wastes physically and chemically, to overview the incineration as a treatment technique and to recommend a management plan for hospital wastes in Alexandria. To attain these goals, 16 hospitals were selected from 6 districts in Alexandria. In each hospital the unit generation rates in terms of Kg/bed/day and Kg/patient /day were determined. The chemical analysis was done for all components to determine moisture, ash and combustible contents of wastes as well as their celorific values. Information about the waste management systems applied in the surveyed hospitals were collected by means of a questionnaire. The study revealed that hospital waste generation rate was about 0.82 Kg/bed/day which was relevant to 1.47 Kg//patient /day. These wastes were consisting of 28.65% glass, 12.11% plastic, 1.93% metal Meanwhile, it could be categorized as 55.61% domestic wastes, 28.66% infections wastes 14.27% sharps, 1.46% pathological wastes and 0.01% aerosols. The moisture, ash and combustible contents of hospital wastes were calculated to be 38.52%, 3.41% and 58.04%. Concerning the waste management, none of the selected hospitals was following the regulations put by the WHO or by the EPA. Segregation was not practiced appropriately, packaging containers were not identified, storage was in a very bad state, incineration was only found in 3 hospitals where they were devoid of any air pollution control system. transport of non-treated wastes away from the hospital was taking place without awareness of the hazards that might be caused by such wastes. Consequently, the study recommended a central incineration for each district to dispose of all clinical wastes from hospitals within residential buildings, as well as establishing responsible waste management committee in all hospitals. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Management; Hospital Wastes; Alexandria | ||
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