The Escalating Biomedical Waste Management To Control the Environmental Transmission of COVID-19 Pandemic: A Perspective from Two South Asian Countries

Abstract

The global pandemic COVID-19 culminated in escalating biomedical waste (BMW) worldwide, and the management authorities are struggling with waste treatment. Bangladesh and India are two densely populated South Asian developing countries with limited resources. Both countries face mass community transmission of the disease, with India facing severe infections and deaths. Predictably, a large population might sum up to a large amount of COVID-19-related BMW. There is also the question of capacity, whether the existing BMW policies and regulations of the regions can manage the BMW strategically driven by the pressure of the pandemic. Here, we have shown a framework leading to further environmental and community transmission of the COVID-19 pandemic if the BMW generated at healthcare facilities and homes is not appropriately managed. The BMW, such as safety suits or personal protective equipment (PPE), masks, gloves, and shields, would likely damage the environment in the long run by creating microplastic pollution. Modification and modernization of the existing policies, plans, and guidelines on the proper management of the hospital and household infectious waste is suggested. Moreover, occupational health and safety assessments for waste management workers at the hospitals are recommended. Installing suitable capacity incinerators and related infrastructures are recommended for appropriate waste management. In the absence of incinerators, the existing industrial furnaces, cement kilns, and mobile incinerators can be used with a rapid impact assessment adhering to the appropriate implementations of the policies and guidelines.

Assessment of Knowledge, Practice and Attitude about Biomedical Waste Management among Healthcare Professionals during COVID-19 Crises in Al-Ahsa

“…Due to this pandemic, biomedical wastes (BMW) concerns not only to physicians or nurses, but to other HCPs such as pharmacists, technicians, interns, and therapists in hospitals and all healthcare sectors [ 5 , 6 ] as there was a paradigm shift in the form of the huge amount of wastes generated. There was an unexpected increase in the amount of disposable personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves, surgical mask, N-95 masks, air-purifying respirators, goggles, face shield, safety gowns or suits and shoe covers, as well as the use of plastic syringes and needles, high-flow nasal cannulas, and breathing circuits [ 7 ]. These have added a massive load to the waste management system.…”

Environment, Biodiversity and Soil Security: A New Dimension in the Era of COVID-19

“…A novel coronavirus (COVID-19) was reported for the first time in December 2019 in Wuhan city, Hubei province of China before its global footprint. On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a worldwide public health emergency and because of its infection and spreading rate and on March 11, 2020, it was declared as a global pandemic.The global lockdown had various positive impacts on the environment like improving the air and water quality and negative impacts like increase in biomedical and plastic waste due to excess use of face masks and personal protection equipment's (Shammi et al 2021) (Fig. 1).…”

“…The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant changes in the production and consumption of plastics and thus caused amplification in plastic waste. The pandemic led to a rapid increment in the global demand for personal protective equipment(s) (PPE), such as gloves, masks, gowns, sanitizers, and face shields (Shammi et al 2021). During early efforts to curb the spread of the virus, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 89 million medical masks per month were required globally, in addition to 76 million examination gloves and 1.6 million sets of goggles (WHO, 2020).In European and Asian countries most of the restaurants were closed for on-site dining, but many food joints offered take away and delivery services using single-use plastic containers.…”

Repercussions of clinical waste co-incineration in municipal solid waste incinerator during COVID-19 pandemic

“…The nature and composition of CW significantly vary from those of MSW, and specific CW often contains materials with high lower heating values (LHV) and ash contents (e.g., metals) [8] , [9] . Meanwhile, the use of plastic products, such as personal protective equipment (gloves, masks, and protective gown) [10] , which are essential to reduce the transmission of this highly contagious virus, has raised attention owing to the resulting increase in the proportion of plastic waste in CW [3] , [9] , [11] . Thus, inappropriate operation of co-incineration may cause incomplete combustion [8] , enhancing the emission of aromatic compounds and acid gases as well as generating residue of unacceptable quality.…”