Healthcare waste management is a critical aspect of public health and environmental protection, particularly in establishments such as dental clinics. This study examined the dental clinic waste (DCW) management processes in clinics within the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Utilizing data from Healthcare Waste Management Plans (HCWMP) provided by the Urban Cleaning Superintendence, the study investigated waste generation, segregation, storage, collection, treatment, and final disposal practices. The results revealed that hazardous DCW represented a significant portion (26.5 %) of waste generated in dental clinics, exceeding the World Health Organization's recommended threshold. Biological waste (22.9 %), mainly consisting of cotton, gauze, and gloves contaminated with blood or body fluids, was the most generated hazardous waste group, followed by chemical (2.2 %) and sharps waste (1.3 %). Incineration was the predominant treatment method for hazardous DCW, raising concerns about environmental impacts and greenhouse gas emissions. Non-hazardous waste, primarily destined for landfills, had limited recycling rates (2.4 %), emphasizing the need for improved waste management strategies to minimize environmental impacts and increase circular economy. Challenges in DCW management included inadequate segregation practices, limited recycling initiatives, and incomplete HCWMPs lacking descriptions of waste management beyond establishment boundaries. Addressing these challenges requires comprehensive training programs, strengthened regulations, and increased environmental awareness among healthcare professionals. In conclusion, improving DCW management in dental clinics is crucial for mitigating occupational and environmental risks. Collective efforts are needed to enhance waste segregation, promote recycling, and ensure compliance with regulations, ultimately safeguarding public health and the environment.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2024.08.027 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Sediment management in integrated aquaculture-agriculture systems: Sustainable use of fish culture sludge for organic fertilization of Terminalia arjuna.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int
January 2025
Animal Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
Aquaculture systems generate large amounts of sludge that represent serious environmental threats if discharged directly into local ecosystems. However, this nutrient-rich sediment can contribute to nutrient cycling by being applied as an organic fertilizer to ornamental medicinal trees during their early growth stages. To investigate the potential advantages of using recirculating aquaculture system sludge (RASS) and biofloc technology sludge (BFTS) as organic fertilization alternatives to chemical fertilization, a pot trial was conducted at the Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Egypt.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSolid waste management and resource recovery during the 4-crew 180-day CELSS integrated experiment.
Life Sci Space Res (Amst)
February 2025
China Astronaut Research and Training center, Beijing 100094, PR China.
In order to explore the management and treatment methods of solid waste in the Controlled Ecological Life Support System (CELSS) of future lunar bases, during the 4-crew 180-day integrated experiment, the Solid Waste Management and Treatment System (SWMTS) was built, in which the treatment of recyclable solid waste such as inedible plant parts and human excrement was completed through a combination of biological aerobic composting and high-temperature oxidation. Basic data on the types and amounts of solid waste generated during the 4-crew 180-day experiment mission were obtained. There were six types of solid wastes, including the work support wastes, the household support wastes, the plant cultivation wastes, the plant-based wastes, and crew feces.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiofiltration for odor mitigation in water resource recovery facilities.
Sci Total Environ
January 2025
Department of Civil Engineering, City College of New York, New York, NY 10031, United States.
Odor emissions, primarily from anthropogenic activities like waste treatment and industrial processes, pose significant challenges in urban areas, particularly near water resource recovery facilities. While these emissions are generally not toxic, they can adversely affect community wellbeing and investment, prompting stricter regulations in some regions. For example, New York State's hydrogen sulfide guidelines are more stringent than federal standards.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImmobilization of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) from field contaminated groundwater by a novel organo-clay vs. colloidal activated carbon under flow conditions.
J Hazard Mater
January 2025
University of Wuppertal, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Institute of Foundation Engineering, Water and Waste Management, Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Management, Pauluskirchstraße 7, Wuppertal 42285, Germany. Electronic address:
Two novel and unique adsorptive materials, one (Fluorolock®) from clay mineral sepiolite coated with the cationic polymer polydiallyldimethylammionium chloride (pDADMAC) and the other (Intraplex®) from colloidal activated carbon were specially developed for the in situ remediation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the saturated zone. We evaluated the potential of both materials to immobilize PFAS in soils under flow conditions via soil column experiments using groundwater, which was contaminated with PFAS in the field. Furthermore, the potential ecotoxicological effects of both materials on aquatic organisms were assessed by exposing the soil column effluent to Daphnia magna.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTc radiolabeling of palm shell charcoal: A preliminary study for potential lung ventilation scintigraphy agent.
Appl Radiat Isot
January 2025
Department of Chemistry, Universitas Indonesia, Depok, 16424, Indonesia.
To investigate the potential of activated carbon from palm kernel shell waste for Tc-radiolabeled nanocarbon aerosol, a new production technology for carbon-based Tc-radioaerosol from such a waste was developed. Treated-palm shell charcoal (t-PSC) was prepared by hydrothermal method to increase the surface area, followed by Tc radiolabelling optimization. The optimal Tc radiolabeling conditions resulted in an adsorption capacity of 21.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!