Biomedical Waste
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What is Biomedical waste?
Biomedical waste, also known as infectious waste or medical
waste is defined as solid waste generated during the diagnosis,
testing, treatment, research or production of biological products
for humans or animals. Biomedical waste includes syringes, live
vaccines, laboratory samples, body parts, bodily fluids and waste,
sharp needles, cultures and lancets.
Sources
The main sources of biomedical waste are hospitals, medical
clinics and laboratories. Because biomedical waste can be
detrimental to human health, the law requires such facilities to
follow procedures that protect the public from coming into contact
with it. Agencies that regulate different aspects of biomedical
waste include Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA),
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Nuclear Regulatory
Commission.
Categories
- Biomedical wastes may be categorized as follows:
- Human Anatomical Waste: Human body parts, tissues and
organs.
- Animal Waste: Animal body parts, carcasses, excreta, bleeding
parts and wastes generated at veterinary hospitals.
- Microbiology and Biotechnology Waste: Wastes from laboratory
cultures, live or attenuated vaccines, human and animal cell
culture used in research, wastes from biological toxins.
- Waste Sharps: Needles, syringes, blades, scalpels.
- Discarded Medicines
- Soiled Waste: Cloth containing blood stains, blood coated
cotton balls, soiled plasters.
- Solid Waste: Waste generated from disposable items like tubing
and catheters.
- Liquid Waste: Waste generated from laboratory housekeeping
activities.
- Incineration Waste: Ash generated from incineration of
biomedical waste.
- Chemical Waste: Chemicals used for disinfection.