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J. R. S. Selvan Christyraj et al.
10.1 Introduction
10.1.1 Biomedical Waste: Universal Problem
Resembling other industrial pollutants, biomedical waste pollutants produced from
healthcare units also have a huge impact on the survival risk of human, animals and
plants. More specifically, the proper management of biomedical wastes has become
a recent research interest on worldwide level due to this highly infectious pandemic
state. A study on biomedical wastes by “The Associated Chambers of Commerce
and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM)” stated that India can generate 550.9 tons of
medical waste per day of 2020 from hospitals and research laboratories. Improper
management of biomedical wastes is taken into account and concern all over the
world as it may lead to serious harmful effects on human health, aquatic systems and
environment. The exposure to untreated biomedical wastes can cause serious health
risks and can induce infectious diseases including tuberculosis, typhoid, cholera,
hepatitis, AIDS, respiratory and abdominal infections. Additionally, the hazardous
biomedical waste can also affect the natural water reservoirs and aquatic life when
it is directly discharged into the streams without prior treatment with reduced toxic
effects. Generally, the biomedical wastes are classified into three major categories
such as chemical/radioactive (5%), infectious (10%) and general municipal (85%)
wastes respectively. As recommended by Worlds Health Organization (WHO), the
biomedical wastes can be segregated into infectious, pharmaceutical, pathological,
sharps and radioactive wastes and suggested to practice suitable disposal method
for the total eradication of the effects. Hence, in order to have improved healthcare
waste management system, it is necessary to have better understanding and knowledge on how to handle, segregate, store and dispose different types of hazardous
medical wastes to avoid serious health risks. This chapter provides an overview of the
urgent need for the proper management of biomedical wastes through better treatment
processes on par with environmental regulatory acts during this pandemic condition.
In addition, it also gives an idea about the global scenario and the biomedical health
risks and different methodologies adopted to reduce the COVID-19 infected persons
and death ratio through following proper biomedical waste management systems.
10.1.2 Types and Sources of Biomedical Waste
Classification of Biomedical waste According to World Health Organization
(WHO) biomedical waste has been classified into eight categories such as General
Waste, Infectious waste, Chemical, Sharps, Radioactive, Pathological, Pharmaceuticals, and Pressurized containers.
J. R. S. Selvan Christyraj et al.
10.1 Introduction
10.1.1 Biomedical Waste: Universal Problem
Resembling other industrial pollutants, biomedical waste pollutants produced from
healthcare units also have a huge impact on the survival risk of human, animals and
plants. More specifically, the proper management of biomedical wastes has become
a recent research interest on worldwide level due to this highly infectious pandemic
state. A study on biomedical wastes by “The Associated Chambers of Commerce
and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM)” stated that India can generate 550.9 tons of
medical waste per day of 2020 from hospitals and research laboratories. Improper
management of biomedical wastes is taken into account and concern all over the
world as it may lead to serious harmful effects on human health, aquatic systems and
environment. The exposure to untreated biomedical wastes can cause serious health
risks and can induce infectious diseases including tuberculosis, typhoid, cholera,
hepatitis, AIDS, respiratory and abdominal infections. Additionally, the hazardous
biomedical waste can also affect the natural water reservoirs and aquatic life when
it is directly discharged into the streams without prior treatment with reduced toxic
effects. Generally, the biomedical wastes are classified into three major categories
such as chemical/radioactive (5%), infectious (10%) and general municipal (85%)
wastes respectively. As recommended by Worlds Health Organization (WHO), the
biomedical wastes can be segregated into infectious, pharmaceutical, pathological,
sharps and radioactive wastes and suggested to practice suitable disposal method
for the total eradication of the effects. Hence, in order to have improved healthcare
waste management system, it is necessary to have better understanding and knowledge on how to handle, segregate, store and dispose different types of hazardous
medical wastes to avoid serious health risks. This chapter provides an overview of the
urgent need for the proper management of biomedical wastes through better treatment
processes on par with environmental regulatory acts during this pandemic condition.
In addition, it also gives an idea about the global scenario and the biomedical health
risks and different methodologies adopted to reduce the COVID-19 infected persons
and death ratio through following proper biomedical waste management systems.
10.1.2 Types and Sources of Biomedical Waste
Classification of Biomedical waste According to World Health Organization
(WHO) biomedical waste has been classified into eight categories such as General
Waste, Infectious waste, Chemical, Sharps, Radioactive, Pathological, Pharmaceuticals, and Pressurized containers.