
Dioxin Emission Factors for the Incineration of Different Medical Waste Types
Previous research works showed that to protect public health, hospital incinerators should be provided with equipment to reduce atmospheric emissions. Most hospital incinerators do not possess such equipment, so efficient methodologies should be developed to evaluate the safety of incineration procedures. Emission factors can be used for an easy estimation of the parameters defined in legislation. Nevertheless, the actual knowledge is very scarce, mainly because previously published emission factors do not include enough information about the incinerated waste types and the respective proportion in incinerated mixture. The existence of different waste classifications also reduces the usefulness of previously published results. This study reports the first dioxin emission factors estimated for the incineration of medical waste, segregated in different types according to the classification of the Portuguese legislation. The main purpose was to evaluate the influence of waste type on emission factors, assessing how useful they are if not associated to the composition of the incinerated mixture. The study also allowed analyzing the correspondence between different waste classifications that are being used, comparing the estimated emission factors with the sole results previously published for specific waste types but segregated according to a different classification. The influence of the incinerated waste type and segregation practices on the concentration and amount of emitted dioxin was assessed, as well as the influence of segregation practices on the amount of wastes that must be incinerated. To estimate eventual hazards for human health, dioxin concentrations in combustion gas flow were compared with the respective legal limits.
Medical waste characterization
Disposal of medical waste has emerged as an important problem in this country. The public is increasingly aware of the threat of irnproperdisposal of medical waste, particularly waste contarninured with conitnunicable disease agents. Given the general lack of knowledge about the composition of biohazardous waste and the large amount generated, it is dificult to assess strategies for waste reduction. The present work presents important results of medical waste characterization performed by dissection of red bags and actual hand separation. Tlie results of tneriical waste characterization at two large hospitals in the state of Florida show a substantial proportion of the waste being plastic and paper. Tlie waste charactesi:ation datu obtuineti were staristically analyzed using the t-test. In additiori,~orit-eritl tmiss balntice studies were done to estimate the amount likely to end up as red bag wasre thus. confit-tniti~y the hack-end studies which were perfimned by liarid separation. This tnerhodology of wuste chasacterization by direct back-end studies and iti~li~ect~[)tit-eti~l tnny De Lipplied to other Iiospitals. Plastic c1icisacteri;citioti was also carried out to differentiate between different hpes of plastic resins appearing in [lie itwte .stre(i~ii. n t rod uc t io n Dibpoh;~I of medical waste has
Public health overview of incineration as a means to destroy hazardous wastes. Guidance to atsdr health assessors
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) receives questions from health professionals in state and local health agencies and from the public regarding human health implications of hazardous waste incineration. The purpose of the document is to provide ATSDR staff an overview of the current engineering practices of incineration and their relationship to public health concerns regarding actual or potential contaminant releases associated with the technology. The document states the views and policies of ATSDR on the use of temporarily-sited incinerators used to destroy hazardous wastes and remediate sites under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).