Abstract
The purpose of this study was threefold: to investigate the types and amounts of medical waste from various hospitals in Taiwan; to analyze residues from incinerated medical waste for heavy metal content; and to measure the amount of infectious and general medical waste per bed per day and determine the ratio of infectious to general medical waste. Information was first obtained on the amounts of medical waste produced per bed per day and on waste handling and treatment. Next, residue samples were taken from incinerators and analyzed for heavy metal content. Third, daily records concerning waste content and weight from one hospital were kept over the period of one year. Chromium (Cr) and zinc (Zn) concentrations were significantly higher in medical waste than in general waste. Medical waste fluctuated significantly over the one-year period. Records showed that wastes containing dialysis material and wood/cotton materials were found to have the highest weight and wastes containing human organs had the lowest weight. Results of the present study underscore the need for all hospitals to effectively separate waste for proper treatment and disposal, particularly waste that produces residues which may be hazardous to the environment. In addition, hospitals also need to recycle or reuse certain materials in order to reduce waste production.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Chang, Z. E.: 1996, in Proc. on Technology of Resource and Application for Incinerator Residue, Taipei, Taiwan, R. O. C. 227–39.
Chen, Y. R.: 1996, in Proc. on Infectious Waste Management and IncinerationTaipei, Taiwan, R. O. C., 1–33.
Crow, S.: 1985, Infection Control. 6, 41.
Henderson, D. K., Fahey, B. J. and Willy, M. <nt>et al.</nt>: 1990, Ann. Intern. Med. 113, 740.
Kolenda, J. Gass, H., Wilken, M. Jager, J. and Zeschmar-Lahl, B.: 1994, Chemosphere 29, 1927.
Lee, C. C. Huffman, G. L. and Nalesnik, R. P.: 1991, ES&T. 25, 360.
Li, C. S. and Jeng, F. T.: 1993, Infection Control and Hospital Epid. 14, 145.
Liao, C. S.: 1996, in Proc. on technology of Resource and Application for Incinerator residue, Taipan, Taiwan, R. O. C. 131–46.
Lin, H. L.: 1996, in Proc. on Infectious Waste M anagement and Incineration, Taipei, Taiwan, R. O. C. 2.6–2.12.
Liu, K. S.: 1996, in Proc. on the Technology of Resource and Application for Incinerator Residue, taipei, Taiwan, T. O. C. 1–12.
Yang, C. M.: 1994, in Proc. on Practice for Infectious Waste by Incineration, Taipei, Taiwan, R. O. C. 6.1–6.24.
Taiwan Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): 1994, NIEA R201.10T. 04–005–01, Taipei, Taiwan, R. O. C.
Tjornton, J., McCally, M., Orris, P. and Weinberg, J.: 1996, Public Health Reports 111, 289.
U. S. Congress: 1990, Finding the Rx for managing medical waste. Office of Technology Assessment Washington, DC: US. Government printing Office, OTA–O–459.
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Hospital Waste Combustion Study. <nt>data gathering phase. Final draft (prepared by the Tadian Corporation)</nt>, Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office.
Wagner, J. and Green, A.: 1993, Chemosphere 26, 2039.
Wong, K. V., Narasimhan, R., Kashyap, R. and Fu, J.: 1994, J. Environ Health. 57, 19.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kuo, HW., Shu, SL., Wu, CC. et al. Characteristics of Medical Waste in Taiwan. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 114, 413–421 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005169032759
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005169032759