Chapter 10
Qualitative Characterization
of Healthcare Wastes
Efaq Noman, Adel Ali Saeed Al-Gheethi, Balkis A. Talip,
and Radin Maya Saphira Radin Mohamed
Abstract The biological hazard inherent in the clinical wastes should be considered during the management and treatment process as well as the disposal into the
environment. In this chapter, the risks associated with the clinical wastes as well as
the management of these wastes are discussed. The chapter focused on reviewing
the types of healthcare wastes generated from hospitals and clinics as well as the
regulations and management practices used for these wastes. Moreover, the health
risk associated with the infectious agents which have the potential to be transmitted
into the environment. It has appeared that the clinical wastes represent real hazards
for the human health and the environment if they were not managed properly.
10.1 Introduction
Healthcare wastes are general terms used to define the wastes containing blood and
infectious agents which are generated from healthcare facilities. In some references,
these wastes are defined as clinical wastes, medical waste, biomedical wastes, hospital wastes, healthcare waste, infectious waste, and hazard and biohazard wastes.
However, this definition excludes the solid wastes which can be recycled or reused
even after the treatment process (Noman et al. 2018a, b). Moritz (1995) suggested
that the disposable or waste terms should be used for non-recyclable materials, while
E. Noman (B)
Department of Applied Microbiology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Taiz University, Taiz, Yemen
e-mail: eanm1984@gmail.com
E. Noman · B. A. Talip
Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM),
KM11 Jalan Panchor, 84000 Pagoh, Muar, Johor, Malaysia
A. A. S. Al-Gheethi (B) · R. M. S. Radin Mohamed
Department of Water and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Civil & Environmental
Engineering, Micro-Pollutant Research Centre (MPRC), Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia,
86400 Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia
e-mail: adelalghithi@gmail.com
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
A. A. S. Al-Gheethi et al. (eds.), Prospects of Fresh Market Wastes Management
in Developing Countries, Water Science and Technology Library 92,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-42641-5_10
167
Qualitative Characterization
of Healthcare Wastes
Efaq Noman, Adel Ali Saeed Al-Gheethi, Balkis A. Talip,
and Radin Maya Saphira Radin Mohamed
Abstract The biological hazard inherent in the clinical wastes should be considered during the management and treatment process as well as the disposal into the
environment. In this chapter, the risks associated with the clinical wastes as well as
the management of these wastes are discussed. The chapter focused on reviewing
the types of healthcare wastes generated from hospitals and clinics as well as the
regulations and management practices used for these wastes. Moreover, the health
risk associated with the infectious agents which have the potential to be transmitted
into the environment. It has appeared that the clinical wastes represent real hazards
for the human health and the environment if they were not managed properly.
10.1 Introduction
Healthcare wastes are general terms used to define the wastes containing blood and
infectious agents which are generated from healthcare facilities. In some references,
these wastes are defined as clinical wastes, medical waste, biomedical wastes, hospital wastes, healthcare waste, infectious waste, and hazard and biohazard wastes.
However, this definition excludes the solid wastes which can be recycled or reused
even after the treatment process (Noman et al. 2018a, b). Moritz (1995) suggested
that the disposable or waste terms should be used for non-recyclable materials, while
E. Noman (B)
Department of Applied Microbiology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Taiz University, Taiz, Yemen
e-mail: eanm1984@gmail.com
E. Noman · B. A. Talip
Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM),
KM11 Jalan Panchor, 84000 Pagoh, Muar, Johor, Malaysia
A. A. S. Al-Gheethi (B) · R. M. S. Radin Mohamed
Department of Water and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Civil & Environmental
Engineering, Micro-Pollutant Research Centre (MPRC), Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia,
86400 Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia
e-mail: adelalghithi@gmail.com
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
A. A. S. Al-Gheethi et al. (eds.), Prospects of Fresh Market Wastes Management
in Developing Countries, Water Science and Technology Library 92,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-42641-5_10
167