Environmental Impact of Medical Waste
Laboratories and hospitals work ceaselessly to protect and treat humans. Conditions such as heart disease and diabetes are treatable. More and more individuals survive cancer. The price of a cure however, comes with a cost. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), medical facilities generate between 600,000 to one million tons of medical waste annually. Up to 15 percent poses environmental risks.
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Sources
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Medical waste has several sources. Naming them brings to light the potential environmental impact. Sources include sharps, which are needles, scalpels and other pointed instruments. Laboratory cultures from diagnostics, blood and blood products, and pathological waste are further sources. Chemicals used in x-rays represents another environmental risk. The concern with these medical wastes is the introduction of diseases such as HIV-AIDS into the environment. Immediate contact poses the greatest threat.
Regulation
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In response to incidents of syringe wash ups on the eastern shore of the U.S., the federal government passed the Medical Waste Tracking Act (MWTA) in 1988, with the EPA monitoring medical waste. Medical waste was defined and a system of requirements put into place. However, control of medical waste passed to the states after the act expired in 1991. Today, states, hospitals and institutions recognize the need for regulation. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), for example, has regulations in place to protect staff in the health care industry. As the medical industry evolves, further regulation and monitoring is necessary to handle new risks.
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Mercury Pollution
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At one time, medical incinerators were used to dispose of waste. The EPA later determined that incinerators were a major source of mercury and dioxin pollution. Mercury in water sources can accumulate in animal tissue and put higher predators such as eagles at risk from consumption. Mercury has also been linked to impaired neurological development and other disabilities in fetuses and infants. The EPA has since banned their use.
Prescription Drugs
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While regulations are in place, the risk of medical wastes from individuals is unchecked. An Associated Press investigation found that prescription drugs had been found in the drinking water of over 41 million Americans. Over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen and ibuprofen have also been found. These findings raise grave concerns. Long term effects on the environment, plant and animal populations is not known. Concern exists for possible drug interactions in humans. The threat is expected to rise due to the increased use of prescription drugs. From 2000 to 2005, pharmaceutical sales rose 11 percent. As Americans age, the use of prescription drugs will continue to rise. Not all drugs are fully absorbed by the human body. Some amounts pass and end up in waste water treatment centers. Not all facilities are capable of drug filtering.
Conclusion
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Stronger regulation is needed if water resources are to be protected. Oftentimes, unnatural substances are being introduced into the environment, which may not be able to adapt to its presence. Likewise, some medical waste can introduce disease to humans. The environmental impact of medical waste is a nationwide issue. As our medical and prescription needs rise, so does the risk to the environment.
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