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Vijay Pradhap Singh M, Ravi Shankar K. Next-generation hybrid technologies for the treatment of pharmaceutical industry effluents. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 353:120197. [PMID: 38301475 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120197] [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: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Water and industries are intangible units of the globe that are always set to meet the population's demand. The global population depends on one-third of freshwater increasing the demand. The increase in population along with urbanization has polluted the fresh water resources. The pharmaceutical industry is marked as an emerging contaminant of water pollution. The most common type of pharmaceutical drugs that are detected in the environment includes antibiotics, analgesics, NSAIDs, and pain-relieving drugs. These drugs alter the food chain of the organisms causing chaos mainly in the marine ecosystem. Pharmaceutical drugs are found only in shallow amounts (ng/mg) they have a huge impact on the living system. The consumption of water contaminated with pharmaceutical ingredients can disrupt reproduction, hormonal imbalance, cancer, and respiratory problems. Various methods are used to remove these chemicals from the environment. In this review, we mainly focused on the emerging hybrid technologies and their significance in the effective treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater. This review paper primarily elaborates on the merits and demerits of existing conventional technologies helpful in developing integrated technologies for the modern era of pharmaceutical effluent treatment. This review paper further in detail discusses the various strategies of eco-friendly bioremediation techniques namely biostimulation, bioaugmentation, bacterial degradation, mycoremediation, phytoremediation, and others for the ultimate removal of pharmaceutical contaminants in wastewater. The review makes clear that targeted and hybrid solutions are what the world will require in the future to get rid of these pharmacological prints.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Vijay Pradhap Singh
- Department of Biotechnology, Vivekanandha College of Engineering for Women (Autonomous), Namakkal, Elayampalayam, Tiruchengode, Tamil Nadu, 637 205, India.
| | - K Ravi Shankar
- Department of Biotechnology, University College of Engineering, Anna University-BIT Campus, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, 620 024, India.
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2
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Maalouf A, Agamuthu P. Waste management evolution in the last five decades in developing countries - A review. WASTE MANAGEMENT & RESEARCH : THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOLID WASTES AND PUBLIC CLEANSING ASSOCIATION, ISWA 2023; 41:1420-1434. [PMID: 37125680 PMCID: PMC10416556 DOI: 10.1177/0734242x231160099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
This review provides the history and current paradigms of waste management (WM) practices in developing nations during the last five decades. It explores the evolution of the challenges, complexities, and trends during this period. This paper, for the first time, presents an estimation of the amount of municipal solid waste (MSW) generated in developing nations in the last five decades based on the material flow analysis approach. Overall, the amount of MSW in developing countries has increased from about 0.64 billion Mt in 1970 to 2 billion Mt in 2019. This review demonstrates the importance of finding new WM approaches in developing nations in the context of formulating policies, strategies, and highlights the major trends that re-define WM in developing countries. It also aims to present the holistic changes in technology, economic and environmental feasibility aspects to attain an integrated sustainable WM system in developing countries. Specific focus on open-burning, open-dumping, informal recycling, food waste, plastic pollution, and waste collection with reference to Sustainable Development Goals are explained. Drivers for the way forward including circular economy are investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amani Maalouf
- Oxford Sustainable Finance Group, Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Research Department, D-Waste, Athens, Greece
| | - Pariatamby Agamuthu
- Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable Development, Sunway University, Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
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3
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Hasan M, Islam ARMT, Jion MMMF, Rahman MN, Peu SD, Das A, Bari ABMM, Islam MS, Pal SC, Islam A, Choudhury TR, Rakib MRJ, Idris AM, Malafaia G. Personal protective equipment-derived pollution during Covid-19 era: A critical review of ecotoxicology impacts, intervention strategies, and future challenges. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 887:164164. [PMID: 37187394 PMCID: PMC10182863 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, people used personal protective equipment (PPE) to lessen the spread of the virus. The release of microplastics (MPs) from discarded PPE is a new threat to the long-term health of the environment and poses challenges that are not yet clear. PPE-derived MPs have been found in multi-environmental compartments, e.g., water, sediments, air, and soil across the Bay of Bengal (BoB). As COVID-19 spreads, healthcare facilities use more plastic PPE, polluting aquatic ecosystems. Excessive PPE use releases MPs into the ecosystem, which aquatic organisms ingest, distressing the food chain and possibly causing ongoing health problems in humans. Thus, post-COVID-19 sustainability depends on proper intervention strategies for PPE waste, which have received scholarly interest. Although many studies have investigated PPE-induced MPs pollution in the BoB countries (e.g., India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar), the ecotoxicity impacts, intervention strategies, and future challenges of PPE-derived waste have largely gone unnoticed. Our study presents a critical literature review covering the ecotoxicity impacts, intervention strategies, and future challenges across the BoB countries (e.g., India (162,034.45 tons), Bangladesh (67,996 tons), Sri Lanka (35,707.95 tons), and Myanmar (22,593.5 tons). The ecotoxicity impacts of PPE-derived MPs on human health and other environmental compartments are critically addressed. The review's findings infer a gap in the 5R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Redesign, and Restructure) Strategy's implementation in the BoB coastal regions, hindering the achievement of UN SDG-12. Despite widespread research advancements in the BoB, many questions about PPE-derived MPs pollution from the perspective of the COVID-19 era still need to be answered. In response to the post-COVID-19 environmental remediation concerns, this study highlights the present research gaps and suggests new research directions considering the current MPs' research advancements on COVID-related PPE waste. Finally, the review suggests a framework for proper intervention strategies for reducing and monitoring PPE-derived MPs pollution in the BoB countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehedi Hasan
- Department of Disaster Management, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur 5400, Bangladesh
| | - Abu Reza Md Towfiqul Islam
- Department of Disaster Management, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur 5400, Bangladesh; Department of Development Studies, Daffodil International University, Dhaka 1216, Bangladesh.
| | | | - Md Naimur Rahman
- Department of Geography and Environmental Science, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur 5400, Bangladesh
| | - Susmita Datta Peu
- Department of Agriculture, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur 5200, Bangladesh
| | - Arnob Das
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology, 6 Rajshahi 6204, Bangladesh
| | - A B M Mainul Bari
- Department of Industrial and Production Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
| | - Md Saiful Islam
- Department of Soil Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Dumki, Patuakhali 8602, Bangladesh
| | - Subodh Chandra Pal
- Department of Geography, The University of Burdwan, Bardhaman 713104, West Bengal, India
| | - Aznarul Islam
- Department of Geography, Aliah University, 17 Gorachand Road, Kolkata 700 014, West Bengal, India.
| | - Tasrina Rabia Choudhury
- Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, Chemistry Division, Atomic Energy Centre Dhaka (AECD), Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
| | - Md Refat Jahan Rakib
- Department of Fisheries and Marine Science, Faculty of Science, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali, Bangladesh
| | - Abubakr M Idris
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Khalid University, Abha 62529, Saudi Arabia; Research Center for Advanced Materials Science (RCAMS), King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Guilherme Malafaia
- Post-Graduation Program in Conservation of Cerrado Natural Resources, Goiano Federal Institute, Urutaí, GO, Brazil; Post-Graduation Program in Ecology, Conservation, and Biodiversity, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil; Post-Graduation Program in Biotechnology and Biodiversity, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
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4
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Tushar SR, Alam MFB, Bari ABMM, Karmaker CL. Assessing the challenges to medical waste management during the COVID-19 pandemic: Implications for the environmental sustainability in the emerging economies. SOCIO-ECONOMIC PLANNING SCIENCES 2023; 87:101513. [PMID: 36687378 PMCID: PMC9846901 DOI: 10.1016/j.seps.2023.101513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Emerging economies are struggling with proper and efficient management of waste due to their constrained resources and weak management. In recent days, this crisis has worsened due to the outbreak of the highly contagious COVID-19 pandemic. To avoid building up stockpiles and contaminating communities with potentially contagious medical waste (MW), and to ensure sustainability in the current and post-COVID-19 era, it is a dire need to develop and implement a safe and efficient medical waste management (MWM) system. This research, thereby, aims to identify, assess, and prioritize the key challenges to efficient and sustainable MWM to mitigate the impacts of the disruptions caused by situations like the pandemic in emerging economies. An integrated approach consisting of the Best-Worst Method (BWM), Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM), and Cross-Impact Matrix Multiplication Applied to Classification (MICMAC) has been proposed to achieve the objectives. Based on the literature review and expert feedback, a total of seventeen challenges were identified and later prioritized by using BWM. The top twelve challenges have been further analyzed using ISM-MICMAC to examine their interrelationships. This study reveals that lack of proper law enforcement and insufficient financial support from investors and the government are two crucial challenges for efficient MWM implementation. The research insights can assist healthcare facility administrators, practitioners, and city managers in identifying the associated challenges and shaping strategic decisions for establishing and managing efficient MWM systems to ensure sustainable development in the post-COVID-19 era.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saifur Rahman Tushar
- Department of Industrial and Production Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh
| | - Md Fahim Bin Alam
- Department of Industrial and Production Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh
| | - A B M Mainul Bari
- Department of Industrial and Production Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh
| | - Chitra Lekha Karmaker
- Department of Industrial and Production Engineering, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, Bangladesh
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Çelik S, Peker İ, Gök-Kısa AC, Büyüközkan G. Multi-criteria evaluation of medical waste management process under intuitionistic fuzzy environment: A case study on hospitals in Turkey. SOCIO-ECONOMIC PLANNING SCIENCES 2023; 86:101499. [PMID: 36540295 PMCID: PMC9754754 DOI: 10.1016/j.seps.2022.101499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Waste management has come to the fore in the whole world with the increasing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic along with concerns about human health, environmental threats, and socio-economic factors, etc. Medical waste is one of the waste types that need special management processes including particularly collection, storage, separation, and disposal. Healthcare activities create a great amount of medical waste deriving from the hospitals. This study aims to determine the hospital that carries out medical waste management in the most effective way in Erzurum, Turkey. To handle intense uncertainty in the evaluation process, the case is analyzed by Intuitionistic Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (IFMCDM) methods. The present study contributes to the literature by focusing on a real case problem under IF environment in a Group Decision-Making (GDM) framework. Additionally, based on the literature review and expert judgments, the evaluation criteria relevant to the case are defined in this paper. To this end, a four-phased integrated methodology that involves Intuitionistic Fuzzy Weighted Averaging (IFWA), IF Analytical Hierarchy Process (IFAHP), IF Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (IFTOPSIS) and One-Dimensional Sensitivity Analysis, is conducted. Firstly, IFWA is aimed to express the significance levels of decision makers (DMs) based on their knowledge, qualifications and experiences. Secondly, IFAHP is used to calculate the importance weights of the decision criteria and IFTOPSIS is preferred to rank the available hospitals. Then, sensitivity analysis is employed to display robustness. According to the results, the most important criteria are Qualified personnel, Health institution infrastructure, and Control of waste, respectively and the most efficient hospital is determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sefa Çelik
- Atatürk University, Department of Business Administration, Erzurum, Turkey
| | - İskender Peker
- Gumushane University, Department of Business Administration, Gümüşhane, Turkey
| | - A Cansu Gök-Kısa
- Hitit University, Department of International Trade and Logistics, Çorum, Turkey
| | - Gülçin Büyüközkan
- Galatasaray University, Department of Industrial Engineering, İstanbul, Turkey
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Mizutani S, Matsuzaki H, Iyota K, Tani A, Oku S, Tabuchi H, Fujiwara A, Hase-Tamaru S, Kishimoto H, Narazaki K. Changes of Oral and Physical Functions in Older Japanese Who Participated in Keyboard Harmonica and Exercise Classes during COVID-19-Related Movement Restrictions. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:3700. [PMID: 36834392 PMCID: PMC9961220 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20043700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Many older people have restricted activities or movements because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which causes concerns about secondary health problems. This study aimed to investigate how frailty-prevention activities implemented by local governments have changed the health of community-dwelling older people during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this observational study, the participants were 23 older Japanese people who took part in keyboard harmonica or exercise classes in 2021. Oral function examination and physical function tests were conducted at baseline and after 10 months of follow-up. In each class, the participants met 15 times and worked on assignments at home. The results showed that oral diadochokinesis/pa/, which represents lip dexterity, improved during 10 months (from 6.6 to 6.8 times/s, p < 0.046); however, grip strength (p < 0.005) and total skeletal muscle mass (p < 0.017) decreased in the keyboard harmonica group. In the exercise group, a statistically significant difference was found only in grip strength, which decreased (p < 0.003). The oral and physical functions of older people who participated in frailty-prevention activities implemented by local governments characteristically changed. Moreover, activity restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic may have caused decreased grip strength.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinsuke Mizutani
- Section of Geriatric Dentistry and Perioperative Medicine in Dentistry, Division of Maxillofacial Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Dental Science, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
- OBT Research Center, Faculty of Dental Science, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Hideaki Matsuzaki
- Department of Rehabilitation Center, Fukuoka Mirai Hospital, 5-1 Kashiiteriha, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 813-0017, Japan
- Department of Behavior and Health Sciences, Graduate School of Human–Environment Studies, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Kiyomi Iyota
- Section of Geriatric Dentistry and Perioperative Medicine in Dentistry, Division of Maxillofacial Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Dental Science, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Asuka Tani
- Section of Geriatric Dentistry and Perioperative Medicine in Dentistry, Division of Maxillofacial Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Dental Science, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Saori Oku
- Section of Geriatric Dentistry and Perioperative Medicine in Dentistry, Division of Maxillofacial Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Dental Science, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Tabuchi
- Section of Geriatric Dentistry and Perioperative Medicine in Dentistry, Division of Maxillofacial Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Dental Science, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Akiko Fujiwara
- Section of Geriatric Dentistry and Perioperative Medicine in Dentistry, Division of Maxillofacial Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Dental Science, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Shizuka Hase-Tamaru
- Department of Life, Environment and Materials Science, Faculty of Engineering, Fukuoka Institute of Technology, 3-30-1 Wajiro-higashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 811-0295, Japan
| | - Hiro Kishimoto
- Department of Behavior and Health Sciences, Graduate School of Human–Environment Studies, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
- Faculty of Arts and Science, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Kenji Narazaki
- Center for Liberal Arts, Fukuoka Institute of Technology, 3-30-1 Wajiro-higashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 811-0295, Japan
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Ekanayake A, Rajapaksha AU, Hewawasam C, Anand U, Bontempi E, Kurwadkar S, Biswas JK, Vithanage M. Environmental challenges of COVID-19 pandemic: resilience and sustainability - A review. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 216:114496. [PMID: 36257453 PMCID: PMC9576205 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/01/2022] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of novel respiratory disease (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 has become a public health emergency worldwide and perturbed the global economy and ecosystem services. Many studies have reported the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in different environmental compartments, its transmission via environmental routes, and potential environmental challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. None of these studies have comprehensively reviewed the bidirectional relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and the environment. For the first time, we explored the relationship between the environment and the SARS-CoV-2 virus/COVID-19 and how they affect each other. Supporting evidence presented here clearly demonstrates the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in soil and water, denoting the role of the environment in the COVID-19 transmission process. However, most studies fail to determine if the viral genomes they have discovered are infectious, which could be affected by the environmental factors in which they are found.The potential environmental impact of the pandemic, including water pollution, chemical contamination, increased generation of non-biodegradable waste, and single-use plastics have received the most attention. For the most part, efficient measures have been used to address the current environmental challenges from COVID-19, including using environmentally friendly disinfection technologies and employing measures to reduce the production of plastic wastes, such as the reuse and recycling of plastics. Developing sustainable solutions to counter the environmental challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic should be included in national preparedness strategies. In conclusion, combating the pandemic and accomplishing public health goals should be balanced with environmentally sustainable measures, as the two are closely intertwined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anusha Ekanayake
- Ecosphere Resilience Research Center, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, 10250, Sri Lanka
| | - Anushka Upamali Rajapaksha
- Ecosphere Resilience Research Center, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, 10250, Sri Lanka; Instrument Center, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, 10250, Sri Lanka.
| | - Choolaka Hewawasam
- Faculty of Technology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, 10250, Sri Lanka
| | - Uttpal Anand
- Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben Gurion, 8499000, Israel
| | - Elza Bontempi
- INSTM and Chemistry for Technologies Laboratory, University of Brescia, via Branze 38, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Sudarshan Kurwadkar
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, California State University, 800 N. State College Blvd., Fullerton, CA, 92831, USA
| | - Jayanta Kumar Biswas
- Department of Ecological Studies & International Centre for Ecological Engineering, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia, 741235, West Bengal, India
| | - Meththika Vithanage
- Ecosphere Resilience Research Center, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, 10250, Sri Lanka; Sustainability Cluster, School of Engineering, University of Petroleum & Energy Studies, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248007, India
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Ngoc SMV, Nguyen MA, Nguyen TL, Thi HV, Dao TL, Bui TMP, Hoang VT, Chu DT. COVID-19 and environmental health: A systematic analysis for the global burden of biomedical waste by this epidemic. CASE STUDIES IN CHEMICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING 2022; 6:100245. [PMID: 37520922 PMCID: PMC9364663 DOI: 10.1016/j.cscee.2022.100245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Since the beginning of this outbreak, much evidence stated that the climb in the amount of biomedical waste harmed human health and had adverse effects on the environment. With the increase of cases of COVID-19 all around the globe, the amount of biomedical waste was also constantly rising. Also, many solutions regarding either reducing or recycling biomedical waste. However, the potential global burden of biomedical waste during this pandemic was not yet been analyzed. Herein, we perform a systematic review of literature on these modalities, including mentioning types of biomedical waste, the effect on health, the environment, and methods of handling biomedical waste during this pandemic. A total of 3551 published papers were identified by two databases. In the end, 15 references were selected for this systematic analysis. Most of the included studies focus on research on the impact of medical waste caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on the environment. The total biomedical waste during the COVID-19 pandemic was approximately 16,649.48 tons/day. Most publications agreed that the amount of waste has also increased due to the rapidly rising number of COVID-19 patients. In 15 articles, we identified 2 mentioning the COVID-19 biomedical waste on health. 9 out of 15 gave out the context related to the solution of BMW by COVID-19. More studies, including meta-analyses, are recommended to shed more light on the effects of medical waste on environmental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suong-Mai Vu Ngoc
- Center for Biomedicine and Community Health, International School, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Viet Nam
- Faculty of Applied Sciences, International School, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Mai-Anh Nguyen
- Center for Biomedicine and Community Health, International School, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Viet Nam
- Faculty of Applied Sciences, International School, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Thanh-Lam Nguyen
- Center for Biomedicine and Community Health, International School, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Viet Nam
- Faculty of Applied Sciences, International School, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Hue Vu Thi
- Center for Biomedicine and Community Health, International School, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Viet Nam
- Faculty of Applied Sciences, International School, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Thi Loi Dao
- Thai Binh University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Thai Binh, Viet Nam
| | | | - Van Thuan Hoang
- Thai Binh University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Thai Binh, Viet Nam
| | - Dinh-Toi Chu
- Center for Biomedicine and Community Health, International School, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Viet Nam
- Faculty of Applied Sciences, International School, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Viet Nam
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9
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Apostol GLC, Acolola AGA, Edillon MA, Valenzuela S. How comprehensive and effective are waste management policies during the COVID-19 pandemic? Perspectives from the Philippines. Front Public Health 2022; 10:958241. [PMID: 36062105 PMCID: PMC9432801 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.958241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
This study presents a comprehensive analysis on policies governing the management of COVID-19 waste in the Philippines, highlighting gaps in pre-existing policies and opportunities for further policy development and adaptation in the context of present and future public health emergencies. A hybrid search strategy and consultative process identified fifty (50) policy documents directly impacting the management of wastes (general domestic, healthcare, and household healthcare waste) released prior to and during the pandemic. Content analysis revealed comprehensive policy coverage on managing general domestic waste and healthcare waste. However, there remains a dearth in policies for managing household healthcare waste, an emerging category for waste generated by patients isolating at home or in isolation facilities. Applicable, pre-existing policies were neither adequate nor specific to this category, and may therefore be subjected to variable interpretation and mismanagement when applied to this novel waste category. Assessment using the modified Cradle-to-End-Of-Life (CTEOL) framework revealed adequate policy coverage across the waste lifecycle stages. However, policies on reducing waste generation were relatively minimal and outdated, and policy gaps in waste segregation led to downstream inefficiencies and introduction of environmental health risks in waste collection, treatment, and disposal. The internal validity of policies was also evaluated against eleven (11) criteria adapted from Rütten et al. and Cheung et al. The criteria analysis revealed strong fulfillment of ensuring policy accessibility, goal clarity, provision of human resources, and strength of policy background, but weak fulfillment of criteria on providing adequate financing, organizational capacity building, monitoring and evaluation, and encouragement of opportunities for public participation. We conclude that existing waste management policies in the Philippines leave much room for improvement to ensure effective management of COVID-19 waste from various settings and circumstances. Hence, these policies are expected to adapt and evolve over time, utilizing the best available technology and environmental practices. Integrated, region-wide waste management systems, involving both government and society, and strengthened by equitable provisional support are needed for effective waste management that is both inclusive and resilient in the face of present and future pandemics.
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10
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Amer F, Hammoud S, Khatatbeh H, Lohner S, Boncz I, Endrei D. A systematic review: the dimensions to evaluate health care performance and an implication during the pandemic. BMC Health Serv Res 2022; 22:621. [PMID: 35534850 PMCID: PMC9081670 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-022-07863-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The balanced scorecard (BSC) has been implemented to evaluate the performance of health care organizations (HCOs). BSC proved to be effective in improving financial performance and patient satisfaction. AIM This systematic review aims to identify all the perspectives, dimensions, and KPIs that are vital and most frequently used by health care managers in BSC implementations. METHODS This systematic review adheres to PRISMA guidelines. The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Google Scholar databases and Google search engine were inspected to find all implementations of BSC at HCO. The risk of bias was assessed using the nonrandomized intervention studies (ROBINS-I) tool to evaluate the quality of observational and quasi-experimental studies and the Cochrane (RoB 2) tool for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). RESULTS There were 33 eligible studies, of which we identified 36 BSC implementations. The categorization and regrouping of the 797 KPIs resulted in 45 subdimensions. The reassembly of these subdimensions resulted in 13 major dimensions: financial, efficiency and effectiveness, availability and quality of supplies and services, managerial tasks, health care workers' (HCWs) scientific development error-free and safety, time, HCW-centeredness, patient-centeredness, technology, and information systems, community care and reputation, HCO building, and communication. On the other hand, this review detected that BSC design modification to include external and managerial perspectives was necessary for many BSC implementations. CONCLUSION This review solves the KPI categorization dilemma. It also guides researchers and health care managers in choosing dimensions for future BSC implementations and performance evaluations in general. Consequently, dimension uniformity will improve the data sharing and comparability among studies. Additionally, despite the pandemic negatively influencing many dimensions, the researchers observed a lack of comprehensive HCO performance evaluations. In the same vein, although some resulting dimensions were assessed separately during the pandemic, other dimensions still lack investigation. Last, BSC dimensions may play an essential role in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. However, further research is required to investigate the BSC implementation effect in mitigating the pandemic consequences on HCO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faten Amer
- Doctoral School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute for Health Insurance, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.
| | - Sahar Hammoud
- Doctoral School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Haitham Khatatbeh
- Doctoral School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Szimonetta Lohner
- Clinical Center of the University of Pécs, Medical School, Cochrane Hungary, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Imre Boncz
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute for Health Insurance, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Dóra Endrei
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute for Health Insurance, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
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Evolutionary Game Analysis of Medical Waste Disposal in China under Different Reward and Penalty Models. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14084658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Although local governments have issued relevant reward and penalty policies, there are still problems of medical waste disposal in China, particularly in light of the special situation of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, these problems are generated in the game between local governments and disposal enterprises. Accordingly, based on the evolutionary game theory, this paper establishes and analyzes the game system between local governments and disposal enterprises under four modes: static reward and static penalty, dynamic reward and static penalty, static reward and dynamic penalty, and dynamic reward and dynamic penalty. The theoretical analysis is verified through numerical simulation of a medical waste disposal case in China. The results showed that when local governments choose the static reward and static penalty mode, the game system hardly always has an evolutionary stable state, and the dynamic reward or dynamic penalty mode can make up for the shortcomings of the static reward and static penalty mode. The static reward and dynamic penalty mode is considerably better than the other two dynamic reward and penalty modes, which has the best effect on improving the quality of medical waste disposal. Additionally, if the reward or penalty increases dynamically, local governments tend to implement a “relaxed supervision” strategy, and disposal enterprises will still improve the disposal quality of medical waste. The suggestions proposed based on the research conclusions offer some enlightenment for policymakers to formulate reasonable reward and penalty measures.
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12
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Miyah Y, Benjelloun M, Lairini S, Lahrichi A. COVID-19 Impact on Public Health, Environment, Human Psychology, Global Socioeconomy, and Education. ScientificWorldJournal 2022; 2022:5578284. [PMID: 35069037 PMCID: PMC8767375 DOI: 10.1155/2022/5578284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2021] [Revised: 09/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The end of the year 2019 was marked by the introduction of a third highly pathogenic coronavirus, after SARS-CoV (2003) and MERS-CoV (2012), in the human population which was officially declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020. Indeed, the pandemic of COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 19) has evolved at an unprecedented rate: after its emergence in Wuhan, the capital of the province of Hubei of the People's Republic of China, in December 2019, the total number of confirmed cases did not cease growing very quickly in the world. In this manuscript, we have provided an overview of the impact of COVID-19 on health, and we have proposed different nutrients suitable for infected patients to boost their immune systems. On the other hand, we have described the advantages and disadvantages of COVID-19 on the environment including the quality of water, air, waste management, and energy consumption, as well as the impact of this pandemic on human psychology, the educational system, and the global economy. In addition, we have tried to come up with some solutions to counter the negative repercussions of the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youssef Miyah
- Laboratory of Materials, Processes, Catalysis, and Environment, University Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah, School of Technology, Post Office Box 2427, Fez, Morocco
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah, Fez, Morocco
| | - Mohammed Benjelloun
- Laboratory of Materials, Processes, Catalysis, and Environment, University Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah, School of Technology, Post Office Box 2427, Fez, Morocco
| | - Sanae Lairini
- Laboratory of Materials, Processes, Catalysis, and Environment, University Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah, School of Technology, Post Office Box 2427, Fez, Morocco
| | - Anissa Lahrichi
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah, Fez, Morocco
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Medical Waste Treatment Technologies for Energy, Fuels, and Materials Production: A Review. ENERGIES 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/en14238065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The importance of medical waste management has grown during the COVID-19 pandemic because of the increase in medical waste quantity and the significant dangers of these highly infected wastes for human health and the environment. This innovative review focuses on the possibility of materials, gas/liquid/solid fuels, thermal energy, and electric power production from medical waste fractions. Appropriate and promising treatment/disposal technologies, such as (i) acid hydrolysis, (ii) acid/enzymatic hydrolysis, (iii) anaerobic digestion, (vi) autoclaving, (v) enzymatic oxidation, (vi) hydrothermal carbonization/treatment, (vii) incineration/steam heat recovery system, (viii) pyrolysis/Rankine cycle, (ix) rotary kiln treatment, (x) microwave/steam sterilization, (xi) plasma gasification/melting, (xii) sulfonation, (xiii) batch reactor thermal cracking, and (xiv) torrefaction, were investigated. The medical waste generation data were collected according to numerous researchers from various countries, and divided into gross medical waste and hazardous medical waste. Moreover, the medical wastes were separated into categories and types according to the international literature and the medical waste fractions’ percentages were estimated. The capability of the examined medical waste treatment technologies to produce energy, fuels, and materials, and eliminate the medical waste management problem, was very promising with regard to the near future.
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