A case study on healthcare waste management in clinical laboratories in Belo Horizonte city, Brazil
Healthcare waste (HCW) refers to all waste generated in establishments whose activities are focused on human and animal healthcare. Among such establishments are clinical laboratories, which are potential generators of that type of waste. HCW can pose significant risks to public health and the envir...
| Publié dans: | Waste management & research : the journal of the International Solid Wastes and Public Cleansing Association, ISWA. - 1991. - 43(2025), 10 vom: 01. Okt., Seite 1448-1459 |
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| Auteur principal: | |
| Autres auteurs: | , , , , |
| Format: | Article en ligne |
| Langue: | English |
| Publié: |
2025
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| Accès à la collection: | Waste management & research : the journal of the International Solid Wastes and Public Cleansing Association, ISWA |
| Sujets: | Journal Article Clinical laboratories healthcare waste management medical laboratories occupational safety solid waste Medical Waste Disposal Medical Waste Hazardous Waste |
| Résumé: | Healthcare waste (HCW) refers to all waste generated in establishments whose activities are focused on human and animal healthcare. Among such establishments are clinical laboratories, which are potential generators of that type of waste. HCW can pose significant risks to public health and the environment if not managed according to good environmental practices. This study analyses the processes involved in the management of HCW in 36 clinical laboratories in Belo Horizonte city, Brazil, using data from Healthcare Waste Management Plans. Non-hazardous waste constitutes 70.5% (290.9 kg day-1) of the total waste generated in those laboratories, whereas hazardous one (composed of HCW with biological, chemical and sharps-related risks) represents 29.5% (121.8 kg day-1). However, the study evidenced a percentage increase in the classification of HCW as hazardous in establishments that underwent technical inspections compared to those whose approval was solely based on declared data. Both segregation and collection stages revealed significant weaknesses in terms of data availability for profile analysis, which may reflect higher operational safety risks. Incineration was the treatment method most frequently adopted in the laboratories studied. Low recycling rates for non-hazardous HCW and indications of a lack of data on external HCW management processes were observed, suggesting a need for further studies on the topic. Improvements in HCW management processes through environmental education campaigns and implementation of public policies for encouraging participation in selective waste collection are also emphasized |
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| Description: | Date Completed 01.10.2025 Date Revised 01.10.2025 published: Print-Electronic Citation Status MEDLINE |
| ISSN: | 1096-3669 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/0734242X251371392 |