The management and treatment of healthcare waste (HCW) are of great concern owing to its potential hazard to human health and the environment, particularly in developing countries. Nowadays, various technological alternatives are gaining momentum as efficient and favorable waste management options across the world. However, selecting a suitable technology as well as an effective waste management approach for the treatment of HCW is still a challenging task for the municipal authorities. This study renders a comprehensive analysis of healthcare waste management (HCWM) practices and the technological options for its better management through a case study in Khulna, the southwestern division of Bangladesh. A number of healthcare establishments (HCEs) in the study area were selected and a questionnaire survey, as well as field investigations, was performed to find out the present status of HCWM and its limitations. An assessment of different technological alternatives was also carried out using Sustainability Assessment of Technologies (SAT) methodology which could pave the way for treating hazardous waste more efficiently in the Khulna metropolitan area. The study revealed that the overall HCW generation rate and hazardous HCW generation rate in Khulna city were 0.90 kg bed−1 day−1 and 0.18 kg bed−1 day−1, respectively. Assessment of management system revealed that 56% (n = 38) of workers did not receive any form of training in the handling of hazardous waste. Around 54% (n = 47) of them did not use any safety equipment or clothing. It has been found from the study that, among different technological alternatives based on the final score, incineration was the most suitable option for the treatment of hazardous waste in Khulna. Finally, some guidelines have been put forward to improve its existing management practices.

No abstract

Climate change has added a new dimension to the uncertainty in rice (Oryza sativa L.) yield worldwide, and Bangladesh in particular. The present study estimated the potential impacts of climate change on the yield of T. aman (Transplanted aman, BR-22) rice variety for 12 representative districts in Bangladesh using the DSSAT 4.0 (Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer) model. Available data on soil and typical crop management practice for T. aman rice were used in the simulations. The daily weather inputs required for this model were generated using the PRECIS (Predicting Regional Climate Impact Studies) model. The model predicted an average yield of T. aman cultivars for selected locations in comparison to the baseline year 2008 are +5.04, +6.06 and −32.43% for the year 2030, 2050 and 2070, respectively. Changes of monthly average temperatures were found to be primarily responsible for the reduction in rice yield. Variability in rainfall pattern over the growing period of T. aman rice also affected the yield. Furthermore, model outcomes envisaged that climate change may make rice yield more susceptible to its transplanting date, forecasting a significant change in yield as the transplanting date is shifted from beginning to the end of July. These outcomes may provide valuable insight into the potential impacts of climate change on rice yield and adequate adaptive measures to mitigate the adverse effect of future climate change in Bangladesh as well as other rice-growing countries.

No abstract

No abstract