An illicit economy: Scavenging and recycling of medical waste

Patwary, Masum A.; O’Hare, W. T.; Sarker, Mosharraf H.

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2011.06.051

Cited by 67 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…On the other hand, there is limited knowledge on the health effects and symptoms associated with individuals exposed to healthcare wastes (Patwary et al 2011a In Ethiopia, the effects of healthcare wastes on people living surrounding the health facilities and on the environment are unknown. People's attitude toward these wastes and particularly to the waste disposal and potential effects arising from it is not also well documented.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Community Risk Perception on Healthcare Wastes in Hospitals and Health Centres of Eastern Ethiopia

Alemayehu¹

2015

SJPH

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Abstract:Background: Indiscriminate waste disposal by many healthcare facilities pose serious health hazard to the inhabitants in general and people living around health care facilities in particular. Human scavengers collecting second hand objects for reselling could be a channel for speading disease causing organisms. In addition, burning of wastes in small size incinerator at a low temperature releases many toxic gases causing health effects for people living around the facilities. The objective of the study was to assess risk perception of people living around health facilities about healthcare wastes. Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted on 438 people in the eastern part of Ethiopia, from August to November 2013. Samples were taken by proportionate allocation to the size of people living within one km radius of 25 health facilities. Questionnaire was administered by a face-to-face interview. Risk perception was classified using a three-point Likert scale from low to high risk. Data were analyzed using STATA software. Bivariate and multi-variable analyses were carried out to determine correlates of risk perception. Result: The magnitude of risk perception for sharp, infectious/pathological wastes and expired drugs was 87%, 93.6%, and 73.1%, respectively. Individuals from urban areas have about 3 times higher odds of increased perceived risk than from rural areas (AOR = 3.02, 95% CI: 1.08-4.32, P = 0.006). On the other hand, people living around the hospitals have 2.5 times higher odds of increased perceived risk than those people living near to health centers (AOR = 2.45, 95% CI : 0.19 -3.04, P = 0.000). Conclusion and recommendation: People involved in this study have high perceived risk for hazardous (infectious and sharp) wastes which might be due to indiscriminate discharges of wastes by the nearby health facilities. It is therefore advisable to dispose wastes in a proper manner in order to minimize public concern.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Community Risk Perception on Healthcare Wastes in Hospitals and Health Centres of Eastern Ethiopia

Alemayehu¹

2015

SJPH

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“…However, persistent factual and perceived issues with the activities of the informal sector, such as occupational and public H&S, child labour, uncontrolled pollutant flows, untaxed activities, association with crime and political collusion, and incompatibility with the image of a modern city (Medina, 2000;Patwary et al, 2011;Wilson et al, 2006;Xu et al, 2012) result in poor inclusion/integration into official systems, despite the longstanding efforts of external support organisations, such as international donors and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) (e.g. Gunsilius et al, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An analytical framework and tool (‘InteRa’) for integrating the informal recycling sector in waste and resource management systems in developing countries

et al. 2012

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In low-and middle-income developing countries, the informal (collection and) recycling sector (here abbreviated IRS) is an important, but often unrecognised, part of a city's solid waste and resources management system. Recent evidence shows recycling rates of 20-30% achieved by IRS systems, reducing collection and disposal costs. They play a vital role in the value chain by reprocessing waste into secondary raw materials, providing a livelihood to around 0.5% of urban populations. However, persisting factual and perceived problems are associated with IRS (waste-picking): occupational and public health and safety (H&S), child labour, uncontrolled pollution, untaxed activities, crime and political collusion. Increasingly, incorporating IRS as a legitimate stakeholder and functional part of solid waste management (SWM) is attempted, further building recycling rates in an affordable way while also addressing the negatives. Based on a literature review and a practitioner's workshop, here we develop a systematic framework-or typology-for classifying and analysing possible interventions to promote the integration of IRS in a city's SWM system. Three primary interfaces are identified: between the IRS and the SWM system, the materials and value chain, and society as a whole; underlain by a fourth, which is focused on organisation and empowerment. To maximise the potential for success, IRS integration/inclusion/formalisation initiatives should consider all four categories in a balanced way and pay increased attention to their interdependencies, which are central to success, including specific actions, such as the IRS having access to source separated waste. A novel rapid evaluation and visualisation tool is presented-integration radar (diagram) or InterRa-aimed at illustrating the degree to which a planned or existing intervention considers each of the four categories. The tool is further demonstrated by application to 10 cases around the world, including a step-by-step guide.

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“…However, an even more serious risk arises from the repacking and resale of mortuary waste by the scavengers. These risks were discussed elsewhere [6] .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This is now an emergent concern in developing countries where medical waste has not been properly managed [2][3][4][5][6][7][8] . A study of sanitary issues relating to burial reported, that improper burial may contaminate the soil and ground water with leachates from the dead body, which obviously may present serious hazards [9] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantitative assessment of mortuary waste: occupational safety and environmental health

Patwary

Sarker

2012

JHA

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Mismanagement of mortuary waste is a significant risk factor for disease transmission. Quantitative estimation of mortuary waste generation is needed to estimate the potential risk and as a basis for any waste treatment, disposal and management plan. Bangladesh, a developing country, is an example where there has been no rigorous estimation of mortuary waste generation and associated risk factors based on a thorough scientific study. The present study used a statistically designed sampling method of waste generation in a broad range to identify the factors associated with public health and environmental safety. The data gathering techniques included observation, formal structured interview, informal dialogue, and waste weighing.The proportion of mortuary waste classified as hazardous by the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines was found to be high. The waste generation rate per dead body was found to be 9.00 ± 2.52kg and average waste generation per day was 918 ± 11kg among the surveyed mortuaries. Operatives dealing with the infectious waste were frequently found to be untrained, without even a basic understanding of the hazards involved. Personal protective equipment was inadequate in most cases, which led to frequent accidental injuries. None of the mortuaries were found to have adequate storage facilities for dead bodies as well as hazardous waste in the context of environmental health and safety. Hazardous waste was dumped into city corporation bins, and disposed of on general landfill sites. As well as exposing the waste to the environment, this could potentially contaminate ground water, soil and sediments, especially as the dumps were located in areas subject to frequent flooding. The significant factor of health and environmental risk was identified as decomposition of dead bodies. The degree to which dead bodies are decomposed is related to the time taken to bring them to the mortuary and to the duration of the autopsies. The delay was due to poor communication, low level of interest, transportation cost, and trying to avoid social harassment. This is the first study to attempt this type of thorough estimation of mortuary waste and assessment of risk on environmental health occupational safety.

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An illicit economy: Scavenging and recycling of medical waste

Cited by 67 publications

References 22 publications

Community Risk Perception on Healthcare Wastes in Hospitals and Health Centres of Eastern Ethiopia

Community Risk Perception on Healthcare Wastes in Hospitals and Health Centres of Eastern Ethiopia

An analytical framework and tool (‘InteRa’) for integrating the informal recycling sector in waste and resource management systems in developing countries

Quantitative assessment of mortuary waste: occupational safety and environmental health

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