African Journal of Environmental and Waste Management

ISSN 2375-1266

African Journal of Environmental and Waste Management Vol. 1 (2), pp. 035-041, September, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Bio-medical wastes disposal and management in some major hospitals of Mysore City, India

Panduranga G. Murthy*, B. C. Leelaja and Shankar P. Hosmani2

1Department of Studies in Biotechnology, Centre for Shridevi Research Foundation –CSRF Sira Road, Tumkur - 572 106, Karnataka, India.

2Department of Studies in Botany, Manasagangothri, University of Mysore, Mysore - 570 006. Karnataka, India.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted May 31, 2013

Abstract

The disposal of biomedical wastes have been studied at various hospitals like, Krishnarajendra Hospital, Mission Hospital, J.S.S. Hospital, Basappa Memorial Hospital, Apollo Hospital and Vikram Hospital for the period of six months by analyzing the procurement lists. Various issues like quantities and proportions of different categories of wastes handling, treatment and disposal methods have been examined. The process of segregation, collection, transport, storage and final disposal methods of infectious and non-infectious wastes have also been observed. One way analysis of variance test has been carried out to determine the possible interrelationship between the wastes originating from different departments of different hospitals. The proper disposal methods have not been employed in K.R. Hospital followed by J.S.S. Hospital and Mission Hospitals when compared to other hospitals. In addition, the differences in the infrastructure were examined and the consequences for waste segregation and disposal methods were also discussed under economic and ecological aspects. For this existing problem, proposed systems of bio-medical waste management are described to improve the disposal practices. A waste management strategy has also been proposed.

Key words: Environment, hospitals, bio-medical wastes, disposal, infectious wastes, non infectious wastes, solid wastes.