Sanjana Poonuru
Modern medicine has been advancing at an exponential rate, with a constant stream of cures and vaccines being researched and the development of new therapies and treatments. However, as medicine continues to advance, it’s important to consider the impact of the popularization of medical practices: namely, the disposal of possibly contaminated equipment. As the world’s population continues to grow the need to provide medical care and services to these people will also continue to grow, which in turn will increase the amount of medical waste being incorrectly disposed of. At present, the disposal and dumping of medical waste is a major issue.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines medical waste as “waste generated by health care activities including a broad range of materials, from used needles and syringes to soiled dressings, body parts, diagnostic samples, blood, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and radioactive materials.” While 85% of medical waste is said to be non hazardous, the remaining 15% could create devastating impacts on both the environment and human health. Used and dirty syringes regularly wash up on beaches or lake shores. Improper antibiotic disposal can expedite the reproduction of antibiotic resistant bacteria, for which new and effective antibiotics have yet to be discovered. Some leftover radioactive liquid from therapy is also thrown into common landfills, which could cause a plethora of unpredictable consequences.
In many health care clinics and hospitals across developing countries, all medical and non-medical waste can often be mixed together and then burned in incinerators. This is harmful for the environment as it results in carbon dioxide being released into the earth’s atmosphere. If not incinerated many medical waste products, such as sharps (needles, scalpels, lancets, broken glass, razors etc) can end up in regular landfill sites and garbage dumps. Waste workers are exposed to potential needle stick injuries and infection when containers break open inside garbage trucks or when needles are mistakenly sent to recycling facilities. Used transit needles can transmit serious diseases, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis. If poisonous toxins leak out of the site, drinking-water sources risk becoming contaminated. Once contaminated the site then becomes more difficult, more expensive, and more time-consuming to purify.
In response to this growing problem experts recommend three main strategies which can all be applied simultaneously. The first strategy should be a concerted effort by the health profession itself to efficiently minimise their medical waste. Minimised waste means that less waste needs to be disposed of correctly and the environmental and health concerns related to incorrect disposal are reduced. Secondly, health professionals and policy-makers should work together to raise awareness around proper medical waste disposal techniques and the dangers of incorrect disposal. They can then work towards implementing and promoting effective alternative waste disposal as opposed to basic incineration and landfill dumping. Finally, safe and environmentally-sustainable waste management options should be selected in order to ensure that people directly involved with medical equipment and waste are properly protected and are not at any undue risk. This can include those who work in collecting, handling, storing, transporting, treating and/or disposing of waste.
Although the disposal of medical waste may not be of the utmost importance in comparison to aquatic pollution or carbon dioxide emissions, it’s important that medical items are disposed of in a manner that is both safe and healthy and environmentally responsible. Incorrectly disposed medical waste could eventually create issues far more serious and difficult to combat than any other major environmental problems. How do you feel about this situation? Do you also think it’s ironic how hospitals work tirelessly to help others but also contribute to substantial environmental deterioration? What do you think about the proposed solutions? Can you think of any other methods or innovations that might help with managing waste disposal?
After reading many of the comment, I want those who are saying that the coronavirus is more of an issue currently to consider how the improper disposal of covid-19-contaminated equipment could potentially lead to more infection. If this equipment is not handled properly it puts waste workers at risk of infection. Waste management continues while we are in quarantine, and if those workers catch the virus they then risk spreading it to other workers and potentially, us.
Citations:
https://www.senseandsustainability.net/2017/09/29/dumped-medical-waste-hazardous-to-the-environment/
26 comments:
I never realized that when these things wash up on shores it can cause reproduction of antibiotic resistant bacteria. That is a huge problem, as we won’t have antibiotics that are able to stop these bacteria. It is kind of ironic that these hospitals are working to help people, but they’re also doing things that will hurt people too. The proposed solutions are good ideas because if medical waste is put to a stop, then hospitals can truly feel like they are helping in all possible ways. I’m sure most people don’t realize the effects that the hospitals have on the environment, but if they did they would seek out more solutions to solve these problems. I think there should be courses for hospitals so that they can learn how to properly dispose of their medical waste.
Although I hate the unnecessary use of plastic waste. I believe that in this pandemic protecting medical workers and people from infection is more important than preventing plastic waste. Many of their products must be single use in order to prevent the spread of infection between doctors and patients. However, the proper disposal of these products should be a priority to prevent the formation of antibiotic resistant bacteria. I believe that healthcare workers should eliminate unnecessary waste, but should not risk spreading infection in the name of conservation. I do believe that lawmakers and hospitals should enforce proper disposal of medical equipment and chemicals. This could make sure the waste does not contaminate the environment. Finally, I do believe that the medical waste should not put any other humans at risk like civilians and those who work in sanitation. Enforcing proper disposal techniques will prevent these risks as well as reduce environmental harm.
Although the excess use of plastic waste is a problem, and if the waste gets washed up on shore or even stays in the water, the bacteria it holds can cause a problem. But, I believe that this is a problem of the future. What we have to worry about right now is helping people who are injured or sick. This is a current problem, so it should be our top priority. Although, there is a way to help these people and make sure the plastic and other waste is disposed of properly so that if wont have an effect on the environment. A way to do this is to install systems where health care departments are able to dispose of this waste properly. For example, at the end of each day, hospitals and pharmacies and all other health department can issue a truck that properly disposes of their waste. By sticking to this solution, or other solutions like this, we can hospitals can help people and be environmentally friendly.
I found it surprising how much harm medical waste can cause, whether is be to the environment or to waste management workers. I think it makes sense that this is an important issue because of the rapid rate that the human population is growing at, leading to the increased production of medical waste. Therefore, it is very likely that we will reach a point in the near future when it is necessary for us to come up with better solutions to this issue. I think that newer technologies and devices will play an important role in these new solutions. A method that could reduce waste worker injuries is the onsite disposal of medical waste near hospitals because it would reduce the need for these workers to come in contact with the hospital waste.
Reading this post made me realize that the disposal of medical waste could cause more people to get sick, bringing in more patients, creating more medical waste. A positive feedback loop created by Big Pharma if you ask the conspiracy theorist side of me. When I think of hospitals or doctor's offices, the first thing that usually comes to mind is how sterile and sanitized it is. I always assumed that this level of order and cleanliness was found in all medical processes. Medical tools and equipment come in wrapping and solutions that ensure its sterility but in turn harm the environment. The health of a patients comes at the cost of the health of the environment. Similar to a previous blog post about the disposal of medicine, I think sites for medical waste should be created. Or a system like municipal waste disposal is set up where every week medical waste is collected and then disposed of properly. Although medical waste can be dangerous to human and natural health, I'm not sure how it can be disposed of in a way that doesn't hurt the environment. Rather than thinking about its disposal, I think medical tools should be created in a way that benefits both human and nature from the beginning to the end of its use.
Although the disposal of medical waste can be detrimental to the environment, I think it is irrational to allocate a significant amount of time and resources to prevent or reduce its adverse effects. Let alone the implications of solving the medical-waste disposal issue, not enough effort is put into more pressing issues such as climate change. Furthermore, the hospital workers' first priority should be their patients health and well-being. I don't think it is the hospital workers responsibility to consider the effects of the disposal of medical waste. As of right now, this problem doesn't seem to be critical. However, I believe that it is important to bring this issue to the spotlight so that it can be immediately targeted after the more significant issues have been tackled.
I feel, with the current state the world is in, medical waste shouldn’t be the top priority on medical officials’ minds. With coronavirus continually spreading and more cases are discovered each day, and many more people being hospitalized due to extreme cases, medical staff should focus on simply saving lives first and foremost. While it is unfortunate that they may be producing waste that the environment may suffer from, I feel like it sort of balances out as with everyone in quarantine, people are producing less pollution on other parts of the environment such as air and water. While, this is a poor excuse as to why we should ignore the dangers of medical waste, I just feel like maybe we just create a temporary dumping site for these items and deal and dispose of them properly at a later time.
Though I think we need to take care of this issue, I believe it shouldn’t be our top priority right now. Single-use protective equipment for medical professionals is important to help end the pandemic, and the priority of the medical field right now should be the coronavirus. I agree that education about proper medical waste disposal is important, however I think it should be carried out once the pandemic has subsided so there can be a greater focus on the issue. Overall, I think a lack of education about the issue has resulted in the growth of the problem.
Before reading this blog post, I was unaware of the impact that the incorrect disposal of medical waste can have on the environment. However, I don't think that this issue should be our top priority right now, especially with the current need for medical supplies amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. I think that the solutions presented in the blog post are effective and wouldn't be too difficult to implement on a large scale. At the moment, more emphasis should be placed on the fact that hospitals are in need of a sufficient amount of medical supplies rather than its disposal.
Up until reading this post, I had no idea that hospitals can have such a big impact on the wellbeing of our planet. It never even crossed my mind to consider the amount of harm that that medical waste can have such a big on the environment as well as waste management workers. I do find it quite ironic that as much as hospitals do to help people, they are unintentionally hurting the environment. We need to find a way around the antibiotic resistant bacteria as it can end up hurting many people. Burning this medical waste is not a valid solution either due to unnecessary carbon dioxide being released into the air. The solutions put forth are quite effective and would not be too difficult to implement. I think that the lack of education is the root of the problem and it is easily fixable by introducing the issue to the public and advising hospitals on what measures to take in order to dispose waste safely.
This makes me upset. I am absolutely distraught and riled up because of human behavior, our behavior. I knew that disposing medical stuff was harmful to the environment, but I never knew the extent of how harmful it really is. I cannot believe that hospitals would be so hypocritical as to help the wellbeing of others but also hurt the environment. Disposing syringes in a harmful fashion is unacceptable! A change needs to be made! One way a change could be made is by educating the whole world about this issue.
The reproduction of antibiotic resistant bacteria is a problematic situation, but who would’ve thought that it would be caused by the hands of our doctors who save lives by the daily? This careless disposal of contaminated equipment should not go unnoticed, but is an easy fix if hospitals around the globe are educated on this topic. As you said, collecting, handling, storing, transporting, treating, and disposing of waste should all be alternatives to simply burning it and releasing those carbon emissions. Now all we need to do is inform every hospital to do that. Good job, we saved the world 10/10
I had no idea this was how medical equipment was disposed of. It is infuriating to know that hospitals cause some of their own patients to become violently ill. If we allow this to continue, we will soon have a super bug on our hands, especially considering the fact that we are in a global pandemic. This needs to stop, NOW. We need to educate everyone, and make sure safe disposal of equipment is enforced. It is unacceptable that our own carelessness causes harm to others who did not do anything to deserve it.
I guess I assumed that medical waste was given to a health professional, locked in a box, and buried deep underground or set on fire or something. I had no idea that plastic litter could come from medical waste. I imagine that at least most of it is still well maintained (or more controlled than fast food litter), but the 15% that could be hazardous does pose concern. More dangerous chemicals and treatments should never end up in the water supply or anywhere else where the effects could harm the public. However, I believe medical waste is pretty low on our list of worries right now. And because health professionals and doctors should be the ones ultimately disposing of the waste, it probably isn’t too hard to control. Sure, it should be kept in mind, but the forefront of thought is keeping people alive.
Improper disposal of medical equipment is a big deal in hospitals mainly because of the safety and spread of diseases, but it never occurred to me that it had such a great impact on the environment. With all the plastic tools that get disposed of after just one use, I assume there is a lot of nondegradable equipment sitting in the dump and ocean which is super harmful, yet I don't think it is sanitary to reuse equipment with different patients. Health does come first and the doctors and nurses have been trained plenty to ensure that disposal is taken care of with utmost priority. However, no one is perfect and slip-ups happen which put all their hard work at waste. I think there needs to be stricter and unmendable regulations put in place for the proper disposal which prevents contamination and harm to the environment.
I understand the many terrible problems that arise from the improper disposal of medical waste and I am honestly surprised that it is as big of an issue as described. I work at an animal hospital and we are always extremely careful with placing used sharps in containers meant specifically for those medical wastes, so it seems sort of absurd to me that others aren't doing the same. In what I have seen, it seems like medical waste is more regulated than this article depicts as large hospitals, I’m sure, know the risks that would come from improper disposal and if they were found out to be doing this. I suppose, though, that smaller medicinal practices may not be as controlled. I wonder if medical wastes such as sharps that are washed up on beaches would actually be coming from individuals such as those that take medicines--like insulin-- through needles or even those that do drugs. Furthermore, I also recoil at the thought of an overuse of single use plastics, but I am unsure how exactly the medical community could decrease this use as the risk of contamination would be very large. I think, though, that the idea of lessening single-use plastics in medicine would definitely be one to research further into and see what is possible.
It seems pretty obvious that a mismanagement of certain medical waste like needles or syringes can have potential negative effects on unaware people. Syringes that are left in the public can pierce skin and infect adults or children with diseases. After reading this post, I believe that the FDA or some government body should work with healthcare administrations to set proper regulations on the way waste is removed in order to streamline the process and make sure that it is disposed of properly.
I am surprised to learn that more regulations are not already in place to prevent this issue. Although the current pandemic is increasing medical waste, it is, unfortunately, a problem that must be dealt with at a later date. It seems like common sense to prevent dangerous bacteria from reentering the environment. After the pandemic, I think we should reassess how our medical facilities operate in order to ensure they are working as efficiently as possible.
This situation is kinda awful just like the improper medication disposal problem addressed in one of the earlier blog posts! It’s definitely ironic how hospitals work tirelessly to help others but don’t even bother with causing environmental deterioration even though there is a chance that some of the patients who visit these hospitals got sick because of these same exact environmental problems. I wonder if proper medical waste disposal is taught at medical schools and residencies? If not, then there should definitely be a mandatory course or topic addressed in these medical education institutions. Like seriously, proper medical waste disposal could probably help save more lives!
I never realized that the disposing of medical supplies had such a direct affect in current times, given the widespread corona-virus pandemic. I guess people have been more focused on continuing their own daily lives through the times of quarantine. However, with the mass usage of medical equipment and potentially dangerous materials, this is an urgent environmental issue. Especially in times of crisis, it is difficult to focus on these issues, even though they still matter and could potentially help spread the virus. As highlighted in the article, if waste removal workers contact this medical equipment and contract the virus, the impact of this pandemic could be extended. It is crucial that we all work to slow the spread of corona virus, and flatten the curve. By acknowledging and respecting laws concerning disposal of medical equipment, we not only slow the spread of this dangerous virus, but also ease it's impact on out fragile environment.
I think this is a big problem in our society today. Medical waste can cause harm to our environment; it's important for us to make sure our medical waste is disposed of properly. I do find it ironic that though hospitals work extremely hard to help others but also can contribute to the harming of our environment. I think using less plastic can help decrease the impact that is causing this issue. I think regulations should be put in place to have a proper place of disposal therefore we can prevent the deterioration of our environment. I think with more research scientists can figure out a positive way to dispose of waste and teach hospitals the way. It is important that people understand the consequences that their actions are taking on our environment.
I have never really thought about the negative effect that medical waste has on the environment. It’s honestly scary to think about how much harm hospital waste can do. I think especially now, it’s more important than ever that hospitals dispose of waste as effectively as possible. Doctors still don’t know the full extent to how the coronavirus spreads. We may not know if the incorrect disposal of medical waste could be contributing to the spread of Covid-19. I don’t really know how the disposal system could be improved though.
It's surprising that something so helpful as the medical field can also be so harmful to the environment. I think this shows that we need to be more aware of how sustainable our methods are in every aspect of society, not just in transportation or energy use. We definitely need more regulations in place to control how hospitals can dispose of their waste, as many people might not take it seriously enough or know the extent of the problem. As with many issues, part of the solution is raising more awareness of the potential dangers of medical waste, and ensuring that people know how to properly dispose of it.
I really like the update you made! It is vital that during the covid epidemic that this problem should be appropriately handled. Yes, covid should be given priority but this is of absolute importance as well, and improperly handling waste during the crisis could lead to larger problems down the line. Most experts expect Coronavirus to cause elevated levels of medical waste, so properly disposing of this waste in a sustainable way will allow us to prevent potential dangers of disposing the waste.
I think that the plan you’ve outlined here is a good idea, and a step in the right direction. Especially in the current situation of COVID-19, proper disposal of medical equipment is very necessary. Something that I personally think would help is normalizing sharps containers alongside trash cans and recycling bins. As a diabetic, i use a lot of needles. And while they usually have a cap or some protective cover, I understand that these things can fail and present a risk to waste workers. These things are meant to be disposed of in sharps containers, but seeing as those aren’t typically available, sometimes I have to toss them into trash cans. Sharps containers are in hospitals, but I think extending their reach beyond medical facilities would help a lot as well.
I had no idea that disposing medical equipment was bad for the environment before reading this post. I find it quite ironic that it is though, because doctors are so busy saving people’s lives, and the fact that they are actually harming the environment also just adds more to their plate. This post also has a lot of relevance now because of the medical supplies being used amidst the corona virus outbreak.
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