Review on distribution, fate, and management of potentially toxic elements in incinerated medical wastes.
Environ Pollut
; 321: 121080, 2023 Mar 15.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2252530
ABSTRACT
Medical wastes include all solid and liquid wastes that are produced during the treatment, diagnosis, and immunisation of animals and humans. A significant proportion of medical waste is infectious, hazardous, radioactive, and contains potentially toxic elements (PTEs) (i.e., heavy metal (loids)). PTEs, including arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg), are mostly present in plastic, syringes, rubber, adhesive plaster, battery wastes of medical facilities in elemental form, as well as oxides, chlorides, and sulfates. Incineration and sterilisation are the most common technologies adopted for the safe management and disposal of medical wastes, which are primarily aimed at eliminating deadly pathogens. The ash materials derived from the incineration of hazardous medical wastes are generally disposed of in landfills after the solidification/stabilisation (S/S) process. In contrast, the ash materials derived from nonhazardous wastes are applied to the soil as a source of nutrients and soil amendment. The release of PTEs from medical waste ash material from landfill sites and soil application can result in ecotoxicity. The present study is a review paper that aims to critically review the dynamisms of PTEs in various environmental media after medical waste disposal, the environmental and health implications of their poor management, and the common misconceptions regarding medical waste.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Refuse Disposal
/
Medical Waste Disposal
/
Metals, Heavy
/
Medical Waste
/
Mercury
Limits:
Animals
/
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Environ Pollut
Journal subject:
Environmental Health
Year:
2023
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
J.envpol.2023.121080
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