Abstract
The increase in the number of health institutions, developments in technology, and the use of devices and materials utilized in diagnosis and treatments have increased the types and amount of medical waste. Therefore, it has become a necessity to reduce the health problems, remove the risks that may arise for human health, and protect the environment by effectively managing the medical wastes that are the results of the activities of health institutions. Hazardous medical wastes that harm humans and environmental health are a risk factor for the whole society. For this reason, removal, collection, temporary storage, recycling, transportation, and disposal of medical wastes without harming people and the environment includes technical, administrative, and legal processes. This study summarizes the current literature for sustainable waste management, its relationship to environmental and human health, and international legislation on waste management.
TopIntroduction
Medical waste management has become one of the complex and challenging processes humanity faces due to the rapid growth in global population and increased demand for health care. Waste coming from health institutions is called hospital waste and it causes environmental pollution. Such waste may create significant health risks for hospital workers, patients, and the community (Ozder, Teker, Eker, Altındis, Kocaakman, & Karabay, 2013, p. 1). For this reason, in terms of human and environmental health, it is very important that waste resources are used efficiently, and that medical waste is disposed of without harming human and environmental health. Medical waste is a particular type of waste that can create risks in this sense (Gao, Shi, Mo, Nie, Yang, Rozelle, & Sylvia, 2018, p. 2). Ineffective management of waste adversely affects the environment and human health (Abdulla, Qdais, & Rabi, 2008, p. 450). Sustainable waste management is an important issue in terms of environmental and economic development, and protection of human and environmental health. (Cansaran, 2010, p. 1). Therefore, the aim in waste management is to provide an ecological and economic balance in a sustainable environment and to enforce policy and laws that will provide benefits to the individual and the society (Aydemir, 2017, p. 295; Akkucuk, 2017).
Medical waste may consist of infectious, radioactive, toxic, or genotoxic substances as a result of activities carried out by hospitals, clinics, laboratories, and veterinary clinics (Insa, Zamorano, & López, 2010, p. 1049). Such waste constitutes environmental and occupational health risks (Ali, Wang, Chaudhry, & Geng, 2017, p. 1). In addition, it is generated at health centers, dental clinics, acupuncture centers, patient care at home, and other institutions where medical care and treatment is provided (Insa et al., 2010, p. 1049).
Waste generated during health services carry more environmental and human health risks than other wastes. This situation requires the safe management of medical waste and the completion of related processes with reliable methods (Aydemir, 2017, p. 296). If such waste is not managed and destroyed using proper methods, it poses serious threats to human health and the environment. For this reason, it is necessary to separate the waste in the place where it is produced and to manage it in accordance with legal regulations (Ozder et al., 2013, p. 1).
The objective of this article is to evaluate the relationship between sustainable medical waste management and the environmental and human health and to monitor international legislation in the light of literature.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Environmental Health: The external factors that affect living beings in a certain environment and the precautions taken to protect them.
Medical Waste: Includes all the waste generated during the procedures performed at health institutions, research facilities, and laboratories, and during medical services provided at home.
Sustainability: Taking precautions to ensure that the needs of future generations can be met while currently meeting the needs of people, and to maintain this situation.
Hazardous Waste: All waste that is harmful to the environment and human health.
Medical Waste Management: Taking the necessary precautions to prevent potential environmental hazards that hazardous waste creates and to remove the risks it poses for community health.