Medical waste management in Al-Kut City

Bassim Hameed Graimed

doi:10.31026/j.eng.2013.07.02

Article Details

Medical waste management in Al-Kut City

Authors:

Bassim Hameed Graimed

Publisher:

University of Baghdad

Journal:

Journal of Engineering Vol.19 Issue 7, pp.98-111

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

1/2013

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001380657

pISSN:

2520-3339

DOI:

10.31026/j.eng.2013.07.02

Keywords:

Abstract:

 This research investigates solid waste management in Al-Kut City. It included the collection of medical and general solid waste generated in five hospitals different in their specialization and capacity through one week, starting from 03/02/2012. Samples were  collected and analyzed periodically to find their generation rate, composition, and physical properties. Analysis results indicated that generation rate ranged between (1102 – 212) kg / bed / day, moisture content and density were (19.0 % - 197 kg/ m3) respectively for medical waste and (41%-255 kg/ m3) respectively for general waste. Theoretically, medical solid waste generated in Al-Kut City (like any other city), affected by capacity, number of patients in a day, and hospital specialty The research exposed the incorrect ways used in collecting, storing, waste transport, and inefficient incinerators processing .Laboratory test for six ash collected samples indicated high concentration of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cr) , having the rang of (51.0 – 62.0) mg / l of lead, (3.0 – 8.5) mg / l for cadmium, and (43.0 -69.0) mg / l for chrome. In comparison with the US Environmental Protection Agency standards, these samples are higher than the recommended levels that may threat groundwater. A comprehensive and integrated solution there must be to manage medical waste, with the participation of all parties concerned, especially, the Ministry of Health, environment authorities concerned, and the participation of civil society organizations. A color-code trash bags and containers are recommended by the World Health Organization and the Environmental Protection Agency to be used in hospitals that propose red bags for collecting medical waste while black bags for general waste provided that they are resistant to tearing seeping and should be provided in sufficient numbers.

Article Details

Medical waste management in Al-Kut City

Authors:

Bassim Hameed Graimed

Publisher:

University of Baghdad

Journal:

Journal of Engineering Vol.19 Issue 7, pp.98-111

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

1/2013

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001380657

pISSN:

2520-3339

DOI:

10.31026/j.eng.2013.07.02

Al-Kut City

Hospital

Incinerator

Medical solid waste

Number of bed (Capacity)

Medical solid waste generation rate

Point of generation

Medical waste composition

Ash

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Bassim Hameed Graimed

Publisher: University of Baghdad

Journal: Journal of Engineering Vol.19 Issue 7, pp.98-111

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 1/2013

Document Language: English

Document ID (Org No.): 2001380657

pISSN: 2520-3339

DOI: 10.31026/j.eng.2013.07.02

Issues

Authors:

Bassim Hameed Graimed

Publisher:

University of Baghdad

Journal:

Journal of Engineering Vol.19 Issue 7, pp.98-111

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

1/2013

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001380657

pISSN:

2520-3339

DOI:

10.31026/j.eng.2013.07.02