Biomedical Waste Disposal Methods
Discharging untreated biomedical waste into the environment is a prohibited practice, according to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. It defines biomedical wastes as all material that may contain human pathogens in hazardous concentrations, including sponges, surgical gloves, masks, dressings, syringes, needles, lancets, capillary tubes, scalpel blades and dialysis unit waste. Treatment methods for biomedical waste include incineration, steam sterilization and chemical decontamination.-
Incineration
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Incineration destroys harmful microorganisms and toxic substances often contained in biomedical waste. It is also the method for destroying recognizable human anatomical remains, reports Environmental Health and Safety at the University of California. The disadvantage of this method is that it releases persistent pollutants to the air, including dioxin and toxic metals such as mercury, reports the Center for Environmental Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University. Medical waste incinerators are a major contributor of dioxin pollution to the environment.
Steam Sterilization
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Steam sterilization is a process of submitting biomedical waste to high pressure saturated steam at a minimum temperature of 249.8 degrees F for at least 20 minutes before its disposal. This treatment uses a machine called an autoclave. Although most pathogens such as bacteria and viruses are destroyed at high temperatures and pressures, some resistant strains of the microorganism that causes Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a brain degenerative disorder, can survive steam sterilization, says Margaret Alexander in "Nursing Practice: Hospital and Home: The Adult."
Chemical Decontamination
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According to Environmental Health and Safety at University of California, chlorine, quaternary ammonium and phenolic compounds can treat liquid or semi-liquid biomedical waste. However, this method brings environmental disadvantages when used in excess to treat bio-contaminated waste water. Quaternary ammonium compounds, or quats, are hazardous to most wildlife, especially fish and other aquatic creatures.
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