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Health-Care Waste Incineration and Related Dangers to Public Health: Case Study of the Two Teaching and Referral Hospitals in Kenya

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Abstract

There are practically no low cost, environmentally friendly options in practice whether incineration, autoclaving, chemical treatment or microwaving (World Health Organisation in Health-care waste management training at national level, [2006] for treatment of health-care waste. In Kenya, incineration is the most popular treatment option for hazardous health-care waste from health-care facilities. It is the choice practiced at both Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Eldoret. A study was done on the possible public health risks posed by incineration of the segregated hazardous health-care waste in one of the incinerators in each of the two hospitals. Gaseous emissions were sampled and analyzed for specific gases the equipment was designed and the incinerators Combustion efficiency (CE) established. Combustion temperatures were also recorded. A flue gas analyzer (Model-Testos-350 XL) was used to sample flue gases in an incinerator under study at Kenyatta National Hospital—Nairobi and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital—Eldoret to assess their incineration efficiency. Flue emissions were sampled when the incinerators were fully operational. However the flue gases sampled in the study, by use of the integrated pump were, oxygen, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, nitrous oxide, sulphur dioxide and Nox. The incinerator at KNH operated at a mean stack temperature of 746 °C and achieved a CE of 48.1 %. The incinerator at MTRH operated at a mean stack temperature of 811 °C and attained a CE of 60.8 %. The two health-care waste incinerators achieved CE below the specified minimum National limit of 99 %. At the detected stack temperatures, there was a possibility that other than the emissions identified, it was possible that the two incinerators tested released dioxins, furans and antineoplastic (cytotoxic drugs) fumes should the drugs be subjected to incineration in the two units.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the management of Moi University, Eldoret and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital for financial support to complete the study. The approval of the study by National Science and Technology and Institutional Ethics Committees of KNH and MTRH is also appreciated. The contribution by the staff of environmental health departments of KNH and MTRH who participated as research assistants is also appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya

    Nkonge A. Njagi

  2. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O.B. 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya

    Mayabi A. Oloo & Magambo J. Kithinji

  3. University of Nairobi, P.O.B. 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya

    J. Kithinji

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  1. Nkonge A. Njagi
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  2. Mayabi A. Oloo
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  3. J. Kithinji
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  4. Magambo J. Kithinji
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Correspondence to Nkonge A. Njagi.

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Njagi, N.A., Oloo, M.A., Kithinji, J. et al. Health-Care Waste Incineration and Related Dangers to Public Health: Case Study of the Two Teaching and Referral Hospitals in Kenya. J Community Health 37, 1168–1171 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-012-9578-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-012-9578-4

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