Environmental and Health Impacts of Medical Waste Combustion Gases: Current Challenges and Sustainable Solutions
Abstract
The generation of plastic trash and biological waste has increased significantly as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. Important challenges to the current trash disposal infrastructure were presented by the rapid growth in the number of waste automobiles intended for clearance, particularly in emerging countries. The necessity of efficient waste management has been highlighted by the COVID-19 health catastrophe. The goal of this review is to clarify every aspect of biomedical waste, including its management, classification, difficulties, and environmental effects of incineration; medical waste types and composition; management procedures; waste segregation; exposure to incinerators and the risk of neoplasia; and the rate of generation and EPI score of medical waste. In order to include improvements, new research, and system developments, biomedical waste management regulations must be updated on a regular basis. This report emphasises how important it is for hospitals, labs, and researchers to work together in order to reduce waste in healthcare settings effectively. The paper outlines recent advancements in the safe disposal of biological waste, including landfilling, chemical disinfection, autoclaving, and incineration. There is also discussion of efficient laboratory methods and procedures for shredding, encapsulating, and inertizing needles. Along with changes to these regulations, the importance of biomedical waste management policies in encouraging safe and ecologically conscious activities has been stressed.
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