Biomedical Waste Management What is Biomedical Waste ? “Waste generated during the diagnosis, treatment or immunization of human beings or animals or in research activities pertaining there to or in the production or testing of biologicals. Classification of Hazardous waste WHO has classified hazardous waste into following categories: Infectious waste: (Suspected to contain pathogens), e.g laboratory culture, waste from isolation Pathological waste: (Containing human tissue or fluids), e.g body parts, blood and other body fluids, fetuses 3.Sharps(Sharp material), e.g needles, infusion sets, scalpel, knives, blades, broken glass 4. Pharmaceutical waste: (Containing pharmaceuticals) expired drugs, contaminated bottles, boxes 5. Genotoxic waste : (Anticancer drug) Genotoxic chemicals 6. Chemical waste : Laboratory reagents, film developer, expired disinfectants, solvents Waste with heavy metals: Batteries, Broken thermometers 8. Pressurized containers: Gas cylinders, gas cartridges, aerosol cans 9. Radioactive material : e.g unused liquid from radiotherepy, contaminated glassware, Urine and excreta from Pt. treated with unsealed radio nucleotides Sources of BMW Govt./Pvt. Hospitals Nursing homes Clinics, Dispensaries Primary Healthcare centres Blood bank and collection centres Labs Research organisation and vaccination centres WHO ARE AT RISK WHO ARE AT RISK Doctors, nurses, health maintenance personnel Patients & visitors in healthcare facilities Workers in support services(laundries, waste handling and transportation) Workers in waste disposal facilities such as landfills or incinerators General public in vicinity TYPES OF HAZARDS Infections Genotoxicity & cytotoxicity Chemical toxicity Physical injuries (from sharps) Radioactivity hazards