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Disposing of untreated biomedical waste into the environment is a serious crime and it is prohibited by several state and federal laws and regulations.
Biomedical waste is defined as all material that contain human pathogens in dangerous concentrations. This includes, among the rest: sponges, masks, sharps (needles, scalpels, blades and so on), surgical gloves and masks, lancets, dialysis units and many more types of waste generated by a health care facility and its workers.
There are three main methods of biomedical waste treatment. They include:
• Steam sterilization
• Incineration
• Chemical decontamination
Steam Sterilization as a Biomedical Waste Disposal Method
Steam sterilization refers to the process of submitting medical waste to a highly-pressurized and saturated steam at a temperature no lower than 250 Fahrenheit for 20 to 30 minutes before it can be disposed of.
This method requires the use of a special machine called an autoclave.
The problem with steam sterilization is that some microorganisms are resistant to it, like a specific strand that causes a degenerative brain disorder called Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
Incineration as a Bio-medical Waste Disposal Method
Another way of destroying biomedical waste is via incineration. This method is actually the most widely used for destroying waste produced in health care industry, but other methods are gaining on it fast.
Incineration destroys microorganisms and toxic material that can be harmful to humans from biomedical waste. In addition, it is also a good way to destroy human anatomical leftovers.
There is a downside to this method, however. Incineration is known to release pollutants in the air. This includes toxic metals like mercury and dioxin. Because of this, many health care facilities are turning to other methods for disposing of their medical waste.
Chemical Decontamination as a Bio-Medical Waste Disposal Method
The third major bio-medical waste disposal Weston method is chemical decontamination. Certain chemicals, in particular quaternary ammonium, chlorine and phenolic compounds, can treat liquid and semi-liquid medical waste material.
However, like with steam sterilization and incineration, that we covered before, there are some disadvantages to chemical decontamination as well. Namely, this particular method should be used sparingly when treating bio-contaminated waste water, or it can have serious consequences on the environment. Also, it should be kept in mind that quaternary ammonium compounds, or simply “quats”, are extremely dangerous to fish and other creatures living in water, as well as to other wildlife.
As you can see from this short article, there are a number of methods that can be used in bio-medical waste disposal, especially in Weston. While they all have their clear advantages and uses in particular situations and for specific types of medical waste, none of them is without flaws. Because of this, it is important to leave the management of the waste your health care facility produces in the hands of a qualified bio-medical waste disposal Weston company. Don’t forget to call in order to get a quote.
