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Ishaq A, Mohammad SJ, Bello AAD, Wada SA, Adebayo A, Jagun ZT. Smart waste bin monitoring using IoT for sustainable biomedical waste management. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023:10.1007/s11356-023-30240-1. [PMID: 37878175 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-30240-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
Suboptimal management of healthcare waste poses a significant concern that can be effectively tackled by implementing Internet of Things (IoT) solutions to enhance trash monitoring and disposal processes. The potential utilisation of the Internet of Things (IoT) in addressing the requirements associated with biomedical waste management within the Kaduna area was examined. The study included a selection of ten hospitals, chosen based on the criterion of having access to wireless Internet connectivity. The issue of biomedical waste is significant within the healthcare sector since it accounts for a considerable amount of overall waste generation, with estimates ranging from 43.62 to 52.47% across various facilities. Utilisation of (IoT) sensors resulted in the activation of alarms and messages to facilitate the prompt collection of waste. Data collected from these sensors was subjected to analysis to discover patterns and enhance the overall efficiency of waste management practices. The study revealed a positive correlation between the quantity of hospital beds and the daily garbage generated. Notably, hospitals with a higher number of beds were observed to generate a much greater amount of waste per bed. Hazardous waste generated varies by hospital, with one hospital leading in sharps waste (10.98 kgd-1) and chemical waste (21.06 kgd-1). Other hospitals generate considerable amounts of radioactive waste (0.60 kgd-1 and 0.50 kgd-1), pharmaceuticals, and genotoxic waste (16.19 kgd-1), indicating the need for specialised waste management approaches. The study sheds light on the significance of IoT in efficient waste collection and the need for tailored management of hazardous waste.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aliyu Ishaq
- Department of Water & Environmental Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81300, Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
- Department of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
| | | | - Al-Amin Danladi Bello
- Department of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
| | | | - Adejimi Adebayo
- Department of Real Estate, School of Built Environment Engineering and Computing, Leeds Beckett University, City Campus Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Zainab Toyin Jagun
- Department of Real Estate, School of Built Environment Engineering and Computing, Leeds Beckett University, City Campus Leeds, Leeds, UK.
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2
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Xu BX, Ding Y, Bilal M, Wang MY. Event-related potentials for investigating the willingness to recycle household medical waste. Heliyon 2023; 9:e20722. [PMID: 37842614 PMCID: PMC10570574 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Household medical waste (HMW) recycling in the reverse supply chain has become a primary channel for infectious, toxic, or radioactive substances for environmental protection and a circular economy. Recycling managers need to understand the recycling decision-making mechanisms of households to improve the intention-behavior gap and recycling participation rate, especially in cognitive neuroscience. This study designed an event-related potential (ERPs) experiment to explore the differences in ERPs components between the willingness and unwillingness to make recycling decisions. Our findings confirmed that willingness and unwillingness to recycle can lead to a significant difference in the P300 and N400 scores. A larger P300 was evoked by willingness rather than unwillingness in the prefrontal, frontal, and frontal-temporal regions. This indicates that willingness to recycle results from a rational choice in the decision-making process. However, a larger N400 was evoked by unwillingness rather than willingness in the parietal, parietal-occipital, and occipital regions. A negative wave was evoked in households unwilling to recycle because they thought it was dangerous and unsanitary, causing a higher conflict with intrinsic cognition. The combination of HMW recycling decisions and neurology may accurately measure pro-environmental decision-making processes through brain science. Advancing the knowledge of psychological and brain mechanism activities for understanding pro-environmental choices. In turn, this can help recycling managers to accurately understand household demands for increasing the recycling intention and designing effective HMW take-back systems to solve the intention-behavior gap related to the global recycling dilemma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin-Xiu Xu
- School of Economics and Management, Anhui Polytechnic University, Wuhu, PR China
| | - Yi Ding
- School of Economics and Management, Anhui Polytechnic University, Wuhu, PR China
| | - Muhammad Bilal
- School of Economics and Management, Anhui Polytechnic University, Wuhu, PR China
| | - Mia Y. Wang
- Department of Computer Science, College of Charleston, SC, USA
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Akter S, Rahman MS, Ali H, Minch B, Mehzabin K, Siddique MM, Galib SM, Yesmin F, Azmuda N, Adnan N, Hasan NA, Rahman SR, Moniruzzaman M, Ahmed MF. Phylogenetic diversity and functional potential of the microbial communities along the Bay of Bengal coast. Sci Rep 2023; 13:15976. [PMID: 37749192 PMCID: PMC10520010 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-43306-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The Bay of Bengal, the world's largest bay, is bordered by populous countries and rich in resources like fisheries, oil, gas, and minerals, while also hosting diverse marine ecosystems such as coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds; regrettably, its microbial diversity and ecological significance have received limited research attention. Here, we present amplicon (16S and 18S) profiling and shotgun metagenomics data regarding microbial communities from BoB's eastern coast, viz., Saint Martin and Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. From the 16S barcoding data, Proteobacteria appeared to be the dominant phylum in both locations, with Alteromonas, Methylophaga, Anaerospora, Marivita, and Vibrio dominating in Cox's Bazar and Pseudoalteromonas, Nautella, Marinomonas, Vibrio, and Alteromonas dominating the Saint Martin site. From the 18S barcoding data, Ochrophyta, Chlorophyta, and Protalveolata appeared among the most abundant eukaryotic divisions in both locations, with significantly higher abundance of Choanoflagellida, Florideophycidae, and Dinoflagellata in Cox's Bazar. The shotgun sequencing data reveals that in both locations, Alteromonas is the most prevalent bacterial genus, closely paralleling the dominance observed in the metabarcoding data, with Methylophaga in Cox's Bazar and Vibrio in Saint Martin. Functional annotations revealed that the microbial communities in these samples harbor genes for biofilm formation, quorum sensing, xenobiotics degradation, antimicrobial resistance, and a variety of other processes. Together, these results provide the first molecular insight into the functional and phylogenetic diversity of microbes along the BoB coast of Bangladesh. This baseline understanding of microbial community structure and functional potential will be critical for assessing impacts of climate change, pollution, and other anthropogenic disturbances on this ecologically and economically vital bay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salma Akter
- Department of Microbiology, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - M Shaminur Rahman
- Department of Microbiology, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, Bangladesh
| | - Hazrat Ali
- Department of Microbiology, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Benjamin Minch
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
| | - Kaniz Mehzabin
- Department of Microbiology, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md Moradul Siddique
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, Bangladesh
| | - Syed Md Galib
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, Bangladesh
| | - Farida Yesmin
- Department of Microbiology, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Nafisa Azmuda
- Department of Microbiology, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Nihad Adnan
- Department of Microbiology, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Nur A Hasan
- University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | | | - Mohammad Moniruzzaman
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA.
| | - Md Firoz Ahmed
- Department of Microbiology, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
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Liu YJ, Yang HY, Hu YY, Li ZH, Yin H, He YT, Zhong KQ, Yuan L, Zheng X, Sheng GP. Face mask derived micro(nano)plastics and organic compounds potentially induce threat to aquatic ecosystem security revealed by toxicogenomics-based assay. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 242:120251. [PMID: 37356160 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
Micro(nano)plastics widely detected in aquatic environments have caused serious threat to water quality security. However, as a potential important source of micro(nano)plastics in surface water during the COVID-19 pandemic, the ecological risks of face mask waste to aquatic environments remain poorly understood. Herein, we comprehensively characterized the micro(nano)plastics and organic compounds released from four daily used face masks in aqueous environments and further evaluated their potential impacts on aquatic ecosystem safety by quantitative genotoxicity assay. Results from spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrum showed that plastic microfibers/particles (∼11%-83%) and leachable organic compounds (∼15%-87%) were dominantly emitted pollutants, which were significantly higher than nanoplastics (< ∼5%) based on mass of carbon. Additionally, a toxicogenomics approach using green fluorescence protein-fused whole-cell array revealed that membrane stress was the primary response upon the exposure to micro(nano)plastics, whereas the emitted organic chemicals were mainly responsible for DNA damage involving most of the DNA repair pathways (e.g., base/nucleotide excision repair, mismatch repair, double-strand break repair), implying their severe threat to membrane structure and DNA replication of microorganisms. Therefore, the persistent release of discarded face masks derived pollutants might exacerbate water quality and even adversely affect aquatic microbial functions. These findings would contribute to unraveling the potential effects of face mask waste on aquatic ecosystem security and highlight the necessity for more developed management regulations in face mask disposal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Jun Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - He-Yun Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Eco-Hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, China
| | - Yan-Yun Hu
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Zheng-Hao Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.
| | - Hao Yin
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Yun-Tian He
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Keng-Qiang Zhong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Li Yuan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Xing Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Eco-Hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, China
| | - Guo-Ping Sheng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.
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Adebayo AS, Olufemi AP, Dasho O, Awosika DD, Olagunju E. Environmental impact assessment of active dumpsite in Ondo City, Nigeria: geochemical and geophysical approaches. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2023; 195:785. [PMID: 37261569 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-11361-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
An assessment of the heavy metal levels associated with municipal waste in the vicinity of the Pele dumpsite, Ondo State, Nigeria, has been undertaken with the view of evaluating the environmental hazards associated with the dumpsite. A total of 23 composite soil samples were collected, measured, and analyzed for six toxic metals, and three dipole-dipole profiles were occupied within the study area. Six different pollution indices were used to evaluate the soil pollution level and ecological risk associated with the dumpsite. The 2D electrical resistivity method was used to delineate the extent of the pollution plume. The mean concentration (in µg/g) of the metals followed a descending order as Zn (75.78) > Cu (37.09) > Pb (25.96) > Cr (6.77) > Ni (5.43) > Cd (0.38). The geoaccumulation indexes revealed Cu (0.56-2.88), Pb (0.49-2.52), and Zn (0.58-2.37) as low to moderate pollutants, while Cd (1.70-6.80) was classified as a moderate-to-considerable high-level pollutant. The ecological assessment indicated moderate risk at most of the sampling points. The 2D resistivity model revealed the weathered layer, which makes up the primary aquifer units, had relatively low resistivity zones, indicating the influence of leachates from the dumpsite, and the vertical expanse of leachate movement was evaluated to be > 25 m. The existence of this pollution plume poses threat to the ecosystem and the health of the surrounding population. Proper management is recommended to resolve this probable ecosystem and health issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adebiyi S Adebayo
- Department of Physics, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Nigeria.
| | - Ayodele P Olufemi
- Department of Physics, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Nigeria
| | - Oluwaseyi Dasho
- Department of Physical Sciences, Ondo State University of Science and Technology, Ondo, Nigeria
| | | | - Emmanuel Olagunju
- Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, William V.S.Tubman University, Monrovia, Liberia
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Andrady AL, Heikkilä AM, Pandey KK, Bruckman LS, White CC, Zhu M, Zhu L. Effects of UV radiation on natural and synthetic materials. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2023; 22:1177-1202. [PMID: 37039962 PMCID: PMC10088630 DOI: 10.1007/s43630-023-00377-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
The deleterious effects of solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation on construction materials, especially wood and plastics, and the consequent impacts on their useful lifetimes, are well documented in scientific literature. Any future increase in solar UV radiation and ambient temperature due to climate change will therefore shorten service lifetimes of materials, which will require higher levels of stabilisation or other interventions to maintain their lifetimes at the present levels. The implementation of the Montreal Protocol and its amendments on substances that deplete the ozone layer, controls the solar UV-B radiation received on Earth. This current quadrennial assessment provides a comprehensive update on the deleterious effects of solar UV radiation on the durability of natural and synthetic materials, as well as recent innovations in better stabilising of materials against solar UV radiation-induced damage. Pertinent emerging technologies for wood and plastics used in construction, composite materials used in construction, textile fibres, comfort fabric, and photovoltaic materials, are addressed in detail. Also addressed are the trends in technology designed to increase sustainability via replacing toxic, unsustainable, legacy additives with 'greener' benign substitutes that may indirectly affect the UV stability of the redesigned materials. An emerging class of efficient photostabilisers are the nanoscale particles that include oxide fillers and nanocarbons used in high-performance composites, which provide good UV stability to materials. They also allow the design of UV-shielding fabric materials with impressive UV protection factors. An emerging environmental issue related to the photodegradation of plastics is the generation of ubiquitous micro-scale particles from plastic litter exposed to solar UV radiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. L. Andrady
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC USA
| | | | - K. K. Pandey
- Indian Academy of Wood Science, Bangalore, India
| | - L. S. Bruckman
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH USA
| | | | - M. Zhu
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, China
| | - L. Zhu
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibres and Polymer Materials, Donghua University, Shanghai, China
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Qualhato G, Vieira LG, Oliveira M, Rocha TL. Plastic microfibers as a risk factor for the health of aquatic organisms: A bibliometric and systematic review of plastic pandemic. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 870:161949. [PMID: 36740053 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Plastic microfibers (PMFs) are emerging pollutants widely distributed in the environment. In the early 2020s, the need for personal protection due to the COVID-19 pandemic led to increased consumption of plastic materials (e.g., facemasks and gloves) and ultimately to increased plastic pollution, especially by PMFs. The PMFs present in the environment may be released in this form (primary particles) or in larger materials, that will release them as a result of environmental conditions. Although a considerable number of studies have been addressing the effects of microplastics, most of them studied round particles, with fewer studies focusing on PMFs. Thus, the current study aimed to summarize and critically discuss the available data concerning the ecotoxicological impact of PMFs on aquatic organisms. Aquatic organisms exposed to PMFs showed accumulation, mainly in the digestive tract, and several toxic effects, such as DNA damage, physiological alterations, digestive damage and even mortality, suggesting that PMFs can pose a risk for the health of aquatic organisms. The PMFs induced toxicity to aquatic invertebrate and vertebrate organisms depends on size, shape, chemical association and composition of fibers. Regarding other size range (nm) of plastic fibers, the literature review highlighted a knowledge gap in terms of the effects of plastic nanofibers on aquatic organisms. There is a knowledge gap in terms of the interaction and modes of action of PMFs associated with other pollutants. In addition, studies addressing effects at different trophic levels as well as the use of other biological models should be considered. Overall, research gaps and recommendations for future research and trends considering the environmental impact of the COVID-19 pandemic are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Qualhato
- Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology and Ecotoxicology, Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil.; Department of Morphology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Lucélia Gonçalves Vieira
- Department of Morphology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Miguel Oliveira
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Thiago Lopes Rocha
- Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology and Ecotoxicology, Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil..
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Ranjbari M, Shams Esfandabadi Z, Gautam S, Ferraris A, Scagnelli SD. Waste management beyond the COVID-19 pandemic: Bibliometric and text mining analyses. GONDWANA RESEARCH : INTERNATIONAL GEOSCIENCE JOURNAL 2023; 114:124-137. [PMID: 35153532 PMCID: PMC8816840 DOI: 10.1016/j.gr.2021.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly increased the demand for personal protective equipment, in particular face masks, thus leading to a huge amount of healthcare waste generated worldwide. Consequently, such an unprecedented amount of newly emerged waste has posed significant challenges to practitioners, policy-makers, and municipal authorities involved in waste management (WM) systems. This research aims at mapping the COVID-19-related scientific production to date in the field of WM. In this vein, the performance indicators of the target literature were analyzed and discussed through conducting a bibliometric analysis. The conceptual structure of COVID-19-related WM research, including seven main research themes, were uncovered and visualized through a text mining analysis as follows: (1) household and food waste, (2) personnel safety and training for waste handling, (3) sustainability and circular economy, (4) personal protective equipment and plastic waste, (5) healthcare waste management practices, (6) wastewater management, and (7) COVID-19 transmission through infectious waste. Finally, a research agenda for WM practices and activities in the post-COVID-19 era was proposed, focusing on the following three identified research gaps: (i) developing a systemic framework to properly manage the pandemic crisis implications for WM practices as a whole, following a systems thinking approach, (ii) building a circular economy model encompassing all activities from the design stage to the implementation stage, and (iii) proposing incentives to effectively involve informal sectors and local capacity in decentralizing municipal waste management, with a specific focus on developing and less-developed countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meisam Ranjbari
- Department of Economics and Statistics "Cognetti de Martiis", University of Turin, Torino, Italy
- ESSCA School of Management, Lyon, France
| | - Zahra Shams Esfandabadi
- Department of Environment, Land and Infrastructure Engineering (DIATI), Politecnico di Torino, Torino, Italy
- Energy Center Lab, Politecnico di Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Sneha Gautam
- Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Alberto Ferraris
- Department of Management, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
- Laboratory for International and Regional Economics, Graduate School of Economics and Management, Ural Federal University, Russia
- Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Simone Domenico Scagnelli
- Department of Management, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
- School of Business and Law, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia
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Singh D, Aryan Y, Chavan D, Tembhare M, Dikshit AK, Kumar S. Mask consumption and biomedical waste generation rate during Covid-19 pandemic: A case study of central India. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 212:113363. [PMID: 35500856 PMCID: PMC9055413 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The rapid generation of biomedical waste (BMW) due to covid-19 pandemic has created burden on the existing municipal solid waste management (MSWM) system in both developed and developing countries. The substantial influx of covid patients in Maharashtra, India has influenced the pattern of BMW generation, especially for the yellow category of BMW and incineration facilities. The objective of the study was to estimate the daily face mask consumption (DFM) and BMW generation from May 2020 to August 2021 in Maharashtra, India. The study was carried out based on the confirmed covid 19 cases, population forecast, urban population (%), BMW generation rate (kg/bed/day), and so on. The data set for the each paramters were collected from web-portals, published reports based on previous studies. These data sets were further regrouped, processed and analyised using mathematical equations. The study also revealed that Mumbai, Pune, and Thane districts, India has contributed ≥ 60% of the DFM and BMW generation. It was found that the DFM by non-covid patients was higher compared to the covid patients (DCFM). Further, it was revealed that BMW generated in the months of July 2020 (152 tons/day), August 2020 (228 tons/day), September 2020 (364 tons/day), October 2020 (177 tons/day), March 2021 (405 tons/day), April 2021 (1,102 tons/day), May 2021 (705 tons/day), June 2021 (194 tons/day), and July 2021 (149 tons/day), exceeded the existing BMW treatment capcity of 132 tons/day. The sudden spike in covid-19 cases has influenced the pattern of DFM and BMW generation, espeicllay for the yellow category of BMW (BMWCY) and has increased the burden on BMW incineration facilities. The daily emission rates from BMW-incineration was in the order PM10> NO2> CO>SO2, with maximum emission of PM10 (85.61 kg of pollutant/day). The F-test was performed using one-way ANOVA to understand the influence of covid cases on daily face mask consumption. It was found that F-satistic of DCFM and BMWCY is more than the F-critical i.e., increase in covid cases had a significant effect on mass consumption rate and BMW generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deval Singh
- Environmental Science & Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB), Powai, Mumbai, 400 076, Maharashtra, India; CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur, 440 020, Maharashtra, India
| | - Yash Aryan
- Environmental Science & Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB), Powai, Mumbai, 400 076, Maharashtra, India
| | - Digambar Chavan
- CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur, 440 020, Maharashtra, India
| | - Mamta Tembhare
- CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur, 440 020, Maharashtra, India
| | - Anil Kumar Dikshit
- Environmental Science & Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB), Powai, Mumbai, 400 076, Maharashtra, India
| | - Sunil Kumar
- CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur, 440 020, Maharashtra, India.
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Rayhan MRI, Liza JM, Rahman MM. Assessment of COVID-19 vaccination-related medical waste management practices in Bangladesh. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0273053. [PMID: 35980954 PMCID: PMC9387846 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic forces people to be vaccinated as early as possible. The COVID-19 vaccination program certainly raised the medical waste volume all over the world, including in Bangladesh. Numerous recent reports showed a fragile medical waste management system in Bangladesh; during the pandemic, the situation became worse. In addition, the nation-wide ongoing COVID-19 vaccination processes have been posing an extra burden to the existing biomedical waste management in the country. Failing to proper management of this waste might be a threat to human and environmental health. Therefore, the study investigated the current COVID-19 vaccine waste management practices in Bangladesh and made a comparison to the proposed standard operating procedures of international organizations and vaccine waste management practices of two other countries (USA and India). The study was carried out through a mixed methodological approach such as qualitative and quantitative, including a questionnaire survey in 15 Upazila of 4 Districts (Dhaka, Narayanganj, Manikganj, and Gazipur) of Bangladesh. The article focused on a nation-wide legitimate COVID-19 vaccination waste estimation, strength, weakness, opportunity, and threat (SWOT) analysis and drivers, pressure, state, impact, and response (DPSIR) framework analysis to identify the present state of medical waste management in the study area. The study found an excellent segregation system (100%) but very poor waste handling (35.5%) along with very poor syringes and sharps disposal method (open burning without buried 46.6%) and poor vials disposal method (without disinfection/open dump 52%) of vaccine waste. It is estimated that about 58 and 257.85 tonnes of syringes (with needles and packaging) and vaccine vials (Sinopharm 2 doses) waste have been generated since the mass-vaccination program started. Upon SWOT analysis, good separation techniques, poor waste management (ex-situ), enough space for management, and environmental and human health concerns were mostly identified as a strength, weakness, opportunity, and threat, respectively. Finally, a DPSIR framework was prepared for vaccine waste generation and its consequences in the studied area. This study will be useful to prepare a suitable vaccination waste management system in Bangladesh.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jannatul Mawya Liza
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Mostafizur Rahman
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Laboratory of Environmental Health and Ecotoxicology, Department of Environmental Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- * E-mail:
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Kuppusamy PP, Bhatia A, Verma A, Shah NR, Pratyush P, Shanmugarajan V, Kim SC, Poongavanam G, Duraisamy S. Accumulation of biomedical waste during the COVID-19 pandemic: concerns and strategies for effective treatment. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:55528-55540. [PMID: 35697985 PMCID: PMC9191757 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-21086-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This study deals with the pollution impact of biomedical waste (BMW) generation due to the COVID-19 pandemic at both the global and national levels. This discussion is important in light of clear scientific evidence that, apart from the airborne transmission of the disease, the virus also survives on different surfaces and poses the risk of infection. Moreover, an investigation is conducted on BMW generation in tons/day in India during the COVID-19 period, with implications for future projection. Additionally, a pioneering study was conducted to estimate the usage of facemasks during the COVID-19 pandemic in India. This paper also provides a feasible solution, by adopting a modern perspective, towards managing BMW generated in the context of SARS-CoV-2 at isolation wards and crematoriums. Strategical approaches have been suggested for segregating and safely disposing BMW. The latest availability of disposal facilities is discussed based on source data provided by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), India. Among the many disposal methods, incineration technologies are examined in depth. The impact of existing incineration technology on the environment and human health has been extensively studied. This study suggests strategies for controlling BMW generation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pon Pavithiran Kuppusamy
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, 632014, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Arpit Bhatia
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, 632014, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Anmol Verma
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, 632014, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Nehal Ratnesh Shah
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, 632014, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Prakash Pratyush
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, 632014, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Vigneswaran Shanmugarajan
- Department of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Saveetha School of Engineering, Chennai, 602105, India
| | - Sung Chul Kim
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Yeungnam University, 280 Daehak-Ro, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk, 712-749, Republic of Korea
| | - GaneshKumar Poongavanam
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Yeungnam University, 280 Daehak-Ro, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk, 712-749, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chennai, 603203, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Sakthivadivel Duraisamy
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, 632014, Tamil Nadu, India
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12
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Hossain MJ, AftabUddin S, Akhter F, Nusrat N, Rahaman A, Sikder MNA, Monwar MM, Chowdhury MSN, Jiang S, Shi H, Zhang J. Surface water, sediment, and biota: The first multi-compartment analysis of microplastics in the Karnafully river, Bangladesh. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 180:113820. [PMID: 35689937 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The Karnafullly River, which flows through Chattogram and falls into the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh, is vulnerable to microplastic contamination. In this study, we looked at microplastics in the Karnafully River's surface water (5 sites), sediment (9 sites), and biota (4 species). Microplastic concentrations ranged from 0.57 ± 0.07 to 6.63 ± 0.52 items/L in surface water, 143.33 ± 3.33 to 1240 ± 5.77 items/kg dry weight in sediment, and 5.93 ± 0.62 to 13.17 ± 0.76 items/species in biota. A significant difference (P < 0.05) was found in the concentration of MPs in the Karnafully River's sediment, biota, and surface water. High percentage of fiber-shaped and small-sized MPs (<1 mm) were detected throughout the samples. Water and sediment MPs were often transparent/white and blue, whereas biota MPs were mostly black and red, indicating a color preference during biological uptake. The Bay of Bengal received 61.3 × 109 microplastic items per day. The feeding zone of biota influenced the level of microplastics, with a trend of pelagic > demersal > benthic > benthopelagic. Polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate were the most abundant polymer. Using the average fish intake rate in Bangladesh, we computed a possible consumption of 4015-7665 items of MPs/person/year.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Jaker Hossain
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Sheikh AftabUddin
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong 4331, Bangladesh.
| | - Farjana Akhter
- Department of Oceanography, University of Chittagong, Chittagong 4331, Bangladesh
| | - Nabila Nusrat
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong 4331, Bangladesh
| | - Atikur Rahaman
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong 4331, Bangladesh
| | | | - Md Mostafa Monwar
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong 4331, Bangladesh
| | | | - Shan Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Huahong Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
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13
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Okeke ES, Olovo CV, Nkwoemeka NE, Okoye CO, Nwankwo CEI, Onu CJ. Microbial ecology and evolution is key to pandemics: using the coronavirus model to mitigate future public health challenges. Heliyon 2022; 8:e09449. [PMID: 35601228 PMCID: PMC9113781 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Pandemics are global challenges that lead to total disruption of human activities. From the inception of human existence, all pandemics have resulted in loss of human lives. The coronavirus disease caused by SAR-CoV-2 began in China and is now at the global scale with an increase in mortality and morbidity. Numerous anthropogenic activities have been implicated in the emergence and severity of pandemics, including COVID-19. These activities cause changes in microbial ecology, leading to evolution due to mutation and recombination. This review hypothesized that an understanding of these anthropogenic activities would explain the dynamics of pandemics. The recent coronavirus model was used to study issues leading to microbial evolution, towards preventing future pandemics. Our review highlighted anthropogenic activities, including deforestation, mining activities, waste treatment, burning of fossil fuel, as well as international travels as drivers of microbial evolution leading to pandemics. Furthermore, human-animal interaction has also been implicated in pandemic incidents. Our study recommends substantial control of such anthropogenic activities as having been highlighted as ways to reduce the frequency of mutation, reduce pathogenic reservoirs, and the emergence of infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Sunday Okeke
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Environmental Biology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria
- Natural Sciences Unit, School of General Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 400001, Enugu State, Nigeria
- Institute of Environmental Health and Ecological Security, School of Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, 212013, PR China
| | - Chinasa Valerie Olovo
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria Nsukka, 400001, Enugu State, Nigeria
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Ndidi Ethel Nkwoemeka
- Natural Sciences Unit, School of General Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 400001, Enugu State, Nigeria
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria Nsukka, 400001, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Charles Obinwanne Okoye
- Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 400001, Enugu State, Nigeria
- Biofuels Institute, School of Environment and Safety Engineering Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China
| | - Chidiebele Emmanuel Ikechukwu Nwankwo
- Natural Sciences Unit, School of General Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 400001, Enugu State, Nigeria
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria Nsukka, 400001, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Chisom Joshua Onu
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria Nsukka, 400001, Enugu State, Nigeria
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Detroit, Michigan, 48202, USA
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14
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Garnett E, Balayannis A, Hinchliffe S, Davies T, Gladding T, Nicholson P. The work of waste during COVID-19: logics of public, environmental, and occupational health. CRITICAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/09581596.2022.2048632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Emma Garnett
- Population Health Sciences, King’s College London, London, UK
| | | | | | - Thom Davies
- Department of Geography, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Toni Gladding
- School of Engineering and Innovation, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
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15
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Bhar A, Biswas RK, Choudhury AK. The influence of COVID-19 pandemic on biomedical waste management, the impact beyond infection. PROCEEDINGS OF THE INDIAN NATIONAL SCIENCE ACADEMY 2022. [PMCID: PMC8908297 DOI: 10.1007/s43538-022-00070-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Excessive population outbursts and associated xenobiotic interventions contribute overproduction of waste materials across the world. Among these waste materials biomedical wastes (BMW) make a significant contribution. The huge accumulation of BMW is not only meant for successive environmental pollution but increases health hazards by cross-contamination and reoccurrence of different fatal infections. The management of BMW gaining continuous attention to the scientific communities for their intriguing potentiality towards public health concerns. Although, world health organization (WHO) and other public health and environmental societies formulate different guidelines for the disposal machinery of BMW but the proper implementation of those rules in public sectors in developing countries is very difficult. In this situation, the sudden prevalence of pandemic like, COVID-19 further worsen such conditions. Huge disposition of medical wastes during COVID-19 detection, treatment, and precautionary measures not only increases the risk of reoccurrence of infection but puts us also in front of a huge challenge of efficient management of these BMW. In this respect, the present review focus on an overview of BMW, existing BMW management, probable consequences of COVID-19 pandemic on the waste management system, and future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anirban Bhar
- Department of Botany (Post Graduate), Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Centenary College (Autonomous), Rahara, Kolkata, 700118 West Bengal India
| | - Rohan Kr Biswas
- Department of Botany (Post Graduate), Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Centenary College (Autonomous), Rahara, Kolkata, 700118 West Bengal India
| | - Avik Kumar Choudhury
- Department of Botany (Post Graduate), Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Centenary College (Autonomous), Rahara, Kolkata, 700118 West Bengal India
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16
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Chowdhury T, Chowdhury H, Rahman MS, Hossain N, Ahmed A, Sait SM. Estimation of the healthcare waste generation during COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 811:152295. [PMID: 34896490 PMCID: PMC8656249 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2021] [Revised: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 pandemic-borne wastes imposed a severe threat to human lives as well as the total environment. Improper handling of these wastes increases the possibility of future transmission. Therefore, immediate actions are required from both local and international authorities to mitigate the amount of waste generation and ensure proper disposal of these wastes, especially for low-income and developing countries where solid waste management is challenging. In this study, an attempt is made to estimate healthcare waste generated during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh. This study includes infected, ICU, deceased, isolated and quarantined patients as the primary sources of medical waste. Results showed that COVID-19 medical waste from these patients was 658.08 tons in March 2020 and increased to 16,164.74 tons in April 2021. A top portion of these wastes was generated from infected and quarantined patients. Based on survey data, approximate daily usage of face masks and hand gloves is also determined. Probable waste generation from COVID-19 confirmatory tests and vaccination has been simulated. Finally, several guidelines are provided to ensure the country's proper disposal and management of COVID-related wastes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamal Chowdhury
- Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Chittagong University of Engineering & Technology, Kaptai Highway, Raozan, Chattogram, Bangladesh
| | - Hemal Chowdhury
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chittagong University of Engineering & Technology, Kaptai Highway, Raozan, Chattogram, Bangladesh.
| | - Md Salman Rahman
- School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX 78539, USA
| | - Nazia Hossain
- School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia
| | - Ashfaq Ahmed
- Institute for Sustainable Industries and Livable Cities, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Sadiq M Sait
- King Fahd University of Petroleum& Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
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17
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Sivadas SK, Mishra P, Kaviarasan T, Sambandam M, Dhineka K, Murthy MVR, Nayak S, Sivyer D, Hoehn D. Litter and plastic monitoring in the Indian marine environment: A review of current research, policies, waste management, and a roadmap for multidisciplinary action. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 176:113424. [PMID: 35176547 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 12/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Environmental contamination due to plastic waste mismanagement is a growing global concern. Plastic problem is of particular concern to the Indian Ocean nations as Asia currently contributes to the highest share of mismanaged plastic waste. Consequently, there is a worldwide interest to understand the distribution and transboundary movement of plastic from this region, which is crucial for implementing management measures. This review article focuses on current knowledge of plastic research, policies, waste management, socio-economics, challenges, and research opportunities. To date, marine plastic studies have focused on a few locations, providing an analysis of distribution and plastic-organism interactions in the Indian marine system. Along with scientific investigation, enforcement, improvisation, and, if necessary, framing new policies, integrated technologies to manage plastic waste, and behavioural changes are essential to mitigate plastic pollution. Such measures will be effective through a combination of actions among national and international researchers, industries, environmental managers, and the public.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanitha K Sivadas
- National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR), Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), NIOT Campus, Pallikaranai, Chennai 600100, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Pravakar Mishra
- National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR), Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), NIOT Campus, Pallikaranai, Chennai 600100, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - T Kaviarasan
- National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR), Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), NIOT Campus, Pallikaranai, Chennai 600100, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - M Sambandam
- National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR), Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), NIOT Campus, Pallikaranai, Chennai 600100, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - K Dhineka
- National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR), Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), NIOT Campus, Pallikaranai, Chennai 600100, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - M V Ramana Murthy
- National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR), Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), NIOT Campus, Pallikaranai, Chennai 600100, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Shailesh Nayak
- National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), IISc campus, Bengaluru 560012, Karnataka, India
| | - David Sivyer
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Suffolk NR33 OHT, United Kingdom
| | - Danja Hoehn
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Suffolk NR33 OHT, United Kingdom
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18
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Silva T, Maciel R, Florencio L, Machado Santos S. Strategies for the improvement of home medical waste management during the COVID-19 pandemic. JOURNAL OF THE AIR & WASTE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (1995) 2022; 72:222-234. [PMID: 34543158 DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2021.1982794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Home care services (HCS) are important to assist patients with difficulties in accessing conventional health services. Nevertheless, in times of COVID-19 pandemic, the traditionally offered service needs to be restructured to protect health professionals, patients and their families. In this context, this article aims to identify the impacts resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic on home medical waste management (MWM), converting threats into opportunities, and weaknesses into management strengths. Three months before the pandemic (from October to December), a comprehensive survey was conducted on the practices of home care services and MWM with health professionals, caregivers and patients in Caruaru (Brazil). Quali-quantitative information was collected by structured and semi-structured interviews. For evaluation, the SWOT-TOWS analysis was applied to identify the threats and weaknesses of the practices of HCS and MWM, and to propose strategies to ensure the protection of public health and the environment. The results showed that the main weaknesses found were the lack of training of health professionals and the lack of guidance given by them to caregivers of patients, both related to MWM. Except for sharp waste, all other MWM practices have proved to be inadequate, posing threats, especially in a pandemic period. Four action strategies to improve HCS and MWM were identified: (i) providing MWM training to HCS personnel based on ISO standards; (ii) providing MWM information to caregivers and patients; (iii) planning actions to optimize the service during the pandemic; and (iv) sharing HCS management with municipal decision makers. Between December 2020 and January 2021, semi-structured interviews were performed only with health professionals, to verify the impacts and changes that have occurred in HCS in the COVID-19 pandemic. Comparing the results of the two surveys, improvements were achieved, including the incorporation during the pandemic of some strategies identified in the first phase of the research.Implications: Home care service plays a fundamental role in the quality of life of patients and in the sustainability of the public health system in Brazil. In the pandemic period, HCS was impacted with routine changes and the adoption of new personal protective equipment. Our results showed the need to promote strategies to improve HCS to preserve the health of professionals and patients attended, in the pandemic and post-pandemic period. The strategies identified in the study contributed to improvements in the provision of the service and in the management of medical waste that is still inadequate. Such issues are of interest to municipal health management, which has adopted some of the suggested strategies. The thousands of HCS distributed in Brazilian municipalities can also adopt the strategic actions resulting from this research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thais Silva
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universidade Federal De Pernambuco, Centro Acadêmico Do Agreste, Caruaru, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Renata Maciel
- Management Engineering, Universidade Federal De Pernambuco, Centro Acadêmico Do Agreste, Caruaru, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Lourdinha Florencio
- Department of Civil Engineering, Universidade Federal De Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Simone Machado Santos
- Civil Engineering, Universidade Federal De Pernambuco, Centro Acadêmico Do Agreste, Caruaru, Pernambuco, Brazil
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19
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Zhang Z, Malik MZ, Khan A, Ali N, Malik S, Bilal M. Environmental impacts of hazardous waste, and management strategies to reconcile circular economy and eco-sustainability. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 807:150856. [PMID: 34627923 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The rise in living standards and the continuous development in the global economy led to the depletion of resources and increased waste generation per capita. This waste might posture a significant threat to human health or the environmental matrices (water, air, soil) when inadequately treated, transported, stored, or managed/disposed of. Therefore, effective waste management in an economically viable and environmentally friendly way has become meaningful. Prominent technology is the need of the day for circular economy and sustainable development to reduce the speed of depletion in resources and produce an alternative means for the future demands in the different sectors of science and technology. In order to meet the potential requirements for energy production or producing secondary raw material, solid waste may be the prime source. The activities of living organisms convert waste products in one form or another in which electronic waste (e-waste) is a modern-day problem that is growing by leaps and bounds. The disposal protocols of the e-waste management need to be given proper attention to avoid its hazardous impacts. The e-waste is obtained from any equipment or devices that run by electricity or batteries like laptops, palmtops, computers, televisions, mobile phones, digital video discs (DVD), and many more. E-waste is one of the rapidly growing causes of world pollution today. Plenty of research is available in the scientific literature, which shows different approaches being set up and followed to manage and dispose of waste products. These strategies to manage waste products designed by the states all over the globe revolves around minimal production, authentic techniques for the management of waste produced, reuse and recycling, etc. The virtual survey of the available literature on waste management shows that it lacks specificity regarding the management of waste products parallel to ecological sustainability. The presented review covers the sources, potential environmental impacts, and highlights the importance of waste management strategies to provide the latest and updated knowledge. The review also put forward the countermeasures that need to be taken on national and International levels addressing the sensitive issue of waste management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang Province 318000, China
| | - Muhammad Zeeshan Malik
- School of Electronics and Information Engineering, Taizhou University, Taizhou 318000, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Adnan Khan
- Institute of Chemical Sciences, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Nisar Ali
- Key Laboratory for Palygorskite Science and Applied Technology of Jiangsu Province, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Deep Utilization Technology of Rock-salt Resource, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huaian, China
| | - Sumeet Malik
- Institute of Chemical Sciences, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Bilal
- School of Life Science and Food Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huaian 223003, China
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20
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Lan DY, Zhang H, Wu TW, Lü F, Shao LM, He PJ. Repercussions of clinical waste co-incineration in municipal solid waste incinerator during COVID-19 pandemic. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 423:127144. [PMID: 34555763 PMCID: PMC8440058 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
During coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, the exponential increase in clinical waste (CW) generation has caused immense burden to CW treatment facilities. Co-incineration of CW in municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) is an emergency treatment method. A material flow model was developed to estimate the change in feedstock characteristics and resulting acid gas emission under different CW co-incineration ratios. The ash contents and lower heating values of the feedstocks, as well as HCl concentrations in flue gas showed an upward trend. Subsequently, 72 incineration residue samples were collected from a MSWI performing co-incineration (CW ratio <10 wt%) in Wuhan city, China, followed by 20 incineration residues samples from waste that were not co-incineration. The results showed that the contents of major elements and non-volatile heavy metals in the air pollution control residues increased during co-incineration but were within the reported ranges, whereas those in the bottom ashes revealed no significant changes. The impact of CW co-incineration at a ratio <10 wt% on the distribution of elements in the incineration residues was not significant. However, increase in alkali metals and HCl in flue gas may cause potential boiler corrosion. These results provide valuable insights into pollution control in MSWI during pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Ying Lan
- Institute of Waste Treatment & Reclamation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Hua Zhang
- Institute of Waste Treatment & Reclamation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Multi-source Solid Wastes Co-processing and Energy Utilization, Shanghai 200092, China.
| | - Ting-Wei Wu
- Institute of Waste Treatment & Reclamation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Fan Lü
- Institute of Waste Treatment & Reclamation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Multi-source Solid Wastes Co-processing and Energy Utilization, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Li-Ming Shao
- Institute of Waste Treatment & Reclamation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Multi-source Solid Wastes Co-processing and Energy Utilization, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Pin-Jing He
- Institute of Waste Treatment & Reclamation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Multi-source Solid Wastes Co-processing and Energy Utilization, Shanghai 200092, China
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21
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Dehal A, Vaidya AN, Kumar AR. Biomedical waste generation and management during COVID-19 pandemic in India: challenges and possible management strategies. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:14830-14845. [PMID: 34622401 PMCID: PMC8496889 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-16736-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the massive generation of biomedical waste (BMW) and plastic waste (PW). This sudden spike in BMW and PW has created challenges to the existing waste management infrastructure, especially in developing countries. Safe disposal of PW and BMW is essential; otherwise, this virus will lead to a waste pandemic. This paper reviews the generation of BMW and PW before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, the regulatory framework for BMW management, policy interventions for COVID-19-based BMW (C-BMW), the capacity of BMW treatment and disposal facilities to cope with the challenges, possible management strategies, and perspectives in the Indian context. This study indicated that policy intervention helped minimize the general waste treated as C-BMW, especially during the second pandemic. Inadequacy of common BMW treatment facilities' (CBMWTFs) capacity to cope with the BMW daily generation was observed in some states resulting in compromised treatment conditions. Suggestions for better management of BMW and PW include decontamination of used personal protective equipment (PPEs) and recycling, alternate materials for PPEs, segregation strategies, and use of BMW for co-processing in cement kilns. All upcoming CBMWTFs should be equipped with higher capacity and efficient incinerators for the sound management of BMW. Post-pandemic monitoring of environmental compartments is imperative to assess the possible impacts of pandemic waste.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashish Dehal
- Chemical and Hazardous Waste Management Division, CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur, 440020, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - Atul Narayan Vaidya
- Chemical and Hazardous Waste Management Division, CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur, 440020, India
| | - Asirvatham Ramesh Kumar
- Chemical and Hazardous Waste Management Division, CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur, 440020, India.
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India.
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22
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Dalui A, Banerjee S, Roy R. Assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practice about biomedical waste management among healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic in a health district of West Bengal. Indian J Public Health 2022; 65:345-351. [PMID: 34975076 DOI: 10.4103/ijph.ijph_2103_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Efforts to combat Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic have significantly increased the quantity of bio-medical waste (BMW) generation. Objectives A cross-sectional study was performed to assess the knowledge, practice, and attitude and factors affecting knowledge on BMW management among Health Care Workers (HCWs) when taking care of patients with COVID-19. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted among 384 HCWs, actively involved in caring of COVID-19 patients in Healthcare settings of North 24 Parganas Health District, West Bengal. Data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire (through Google Forms) and an observational checklist after selection criteria and having consent. The Questionnaire included four sections like the sociodemographic information, knowledge related to BMW management, observational questionnaire assessing the practice of HCWs on BMW management and rating scale related to attitudes towards BMW management. Results 166 HCWs (43.2%) had an excellent knowledge with overall mean score 13.5 ± 3.6. A high mean score (14.4 ± 3.2) was obtained by doctors followed by nurses (13.6 ± 3.8). Regarding practice, the majority of HCWs (52.8%) followed the color-coding of BMW and 49.5% followed policies in separating the wastes according to hazard. Doctors (91%) and nurses (81%) had more favorable attitude than others. There was a statistically significant association found among knowledge level and educational qualification (P = 0.0001), gender (P = 0.001), and work experience (P = 0.05) and work area (P = 0.05). Conclusion Emphasis should be given to aware and train all HCWs regarding proper BMW management during this pandemic to prevent infection transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anirban Dalui
- Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, India
| | - Sitikantha Banerjee
- Senior Resident, Department of Community Medicine, AIIMS, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
| | - Ramaprasad Roy
- Principal and Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Arambagh Government Medical College, Arambagh, West Bengal, India
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23
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Islam A, Kalam MA, Sayeed MA, Shano S, Rahman MK, Islam S, Ferdous J, Choudhury SD, Hassan MM. Escalating SARS-CoV-2 circulation in environment and tracking waste management in South Asia. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:61951-61968. [PMID: 34558044 PMCID: PMC8459815 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-16396-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
The novel coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused an exceptional drift of production, utilization, and disposal of personal protective equipment (PPE) and different microplastic objects for safety against the virus. Hence, we reviewed related literature on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA detected from household, biomedical waste, and sewage to identify possible health risks and status of existing laws, regulations, and policies regarding waste disposal in South Asian (SA) countries. The SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in sewage and wastewater samples of Nepal, India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Besides, this review reiterates the enormous amounts of PPE and other single-use plastic wastes generated from healthcare facilities and households in the SA region with inappropriate disposal, landfilling, and/or incineration techniques wind-up polluting the environment. Consequently, the Delta variant (B.1.617.2) of SARS-CoV-2 has been detected in sewer treatment plant in India. Moreover, the overuse of non-biodegradable plastics during the pandemic is deteriorating plastic pollution condition and causes a substantial health risk to the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. We recommend making necessary adjustments, adopting measures and strategies, and enforcement of the existing biomedical waste management and sanitation-related policy in SA countries. We propose to adopt the knowledge gaps to improve COVID-19-associated waste management and legislation to prevent further environmental pollution. Besides, the citizens should follow proper disposal procedures of COVID-19 waste to control the environmental pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariful Islam
- EcoHealth Alliance, New York, NY, 10001-2320, USA.
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Science, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, 3216, Australia.
| | | | - Md Abu Sayeed
- EcoHealth Alliance, New York, NY, 10001-2320, USA
- Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Shahanaj Shano
- EcoHealth Alliance, New York, NY, 10001-2320, USA
- Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Md Kaisar Rahman
- EcoHealth Alliance, New York, NY, 10001-2320, USA
- Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Shariful Islam
- EcoHealth Alliance, New York, NY, 10001-2320, USA
- Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Jinnat Ferdous
- EcoHealth Alliance, New York, NY, 10001-2320, USA
- Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Shusmita Dutta Choudhury
- EcoHealth Alliance, New York, NY, 10001-2320, USA
- Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammad Mahmudul Hassan
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chattogram, 4225, Bangladesh
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Meng J, Zhang Q, Zheng Y, He G, Shi H. Plastic waste as the potential carriers of pathogens. Curr Opin Food Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cofs.2021.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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25
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Jalal SM, Akhter F, Abdelhafez AI, Alrajeh AM. Assessment of Knowledge, Practice and Attitude about Biomedical Waste Management among Healthcare Professionals during COVID-19 Crises in Al-Ahsa. Healthcare (Basel) 2021; 9:747. [PMID: 34207056 PMCID: PMC8235679 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare9060747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 06/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Biomedical waste (BMW) management is an essential practice of healthcare professionals (HCPs) for preventing health and also environmental hazards. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has become a global pandemic, posing significant challenges for healthcare sectors. A cross-sectional study was performed to assess the knowledge, practice, and attitude on BMW management among HCPs when taking care of patients with COVID-19 and associated with demographic variables. From Al-Ahsa healthcare sectors, 256 HCPs were selected randomly, of which 105 (41%) had excellent knowledge, 87 (34%) had good knowledge, and 64 (25%) had poor knowledge with a mean score of 13.1 ± 3.6. A higher mean score was (14.4 ± 3.2) obtained by physicians, and (13.6 ± 3.8) nurses than the other HCPs. Regarding practice, 72 (28.1%) HCPs used and discarded PPE while handling biomedical wastes. Additionally, 88 (34.4%) followed proper hand hygiene before and after each procedure and whenever needed. Physicians, nurses, and respiratory therapists had a more favorable attitude than other HCPs. There was a statistically significant association found among knowledge level and educational qualification (p < 0.0001), gender (p < 0.001), and work experience (p < 0.05). Emphasis is needed to train all HCPs regarding proper BMW management during this pandemic to prevent infection transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahbanathul Missiriya Jalal
- Department of Nursing, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia; (F.A.); (A.I.A.)
| | - Fahima Akhter
- Department of Nursing, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia; (F.A.); (A.I.A.)
| | - Amal Ismael Abdelhafez
- Department of Nursing, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia; (F.A.); (A.I.A.)
| | - Ahmed Mansour Alrajeh
- Department of Respiratory Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia;
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