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PubMed1992

Reusables win a battle over disposables.

The time is right to market the environmental benefits of reusable textiles. Take it from Stan Wiener, director of sales for Unitex Textile Rental Services, Mount Vernon, N.Y. Wearing one of his company's reusable cloth examination gowns, Wiener made a sales call to a leading New York health services center. Persuaded by the environmental friendliness of reusables, the health center made the switch from paper gowns and has realized a 5,000-lb. reduction in disposable trash.

Ambulatory Care Facilities↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Medical waste: reducing its generation.

1. Materials that can be recycled have yet to be proven to be a more cost-effective means of reducing medical waste. The literature indicates that the efficacy of reusable textiles is at least equal to that of some disposables--and reusable items reduce the generation of blood-contaminated waste. 2. The perioperative nursing community should consider replacing single-use items with materials intended for multiple uses. 3. "Source reduction" entails the replacement of single-use items with reusable items. Successful source-reduction programs require changes in individual and collective behavior patterns. 4. Recycling of materials renders them suitable for another use in a product similar to that in which they were originally used. On the other hand, reprocessing is an all-descriptive term of what must be done to an item to render it suitable for another identical use.

Disposable Equipment↗
PubMed2001

Investigations of ash topography/morphology and their relationship with heavy metals leachability.

The leachability of heavy metals such as chromium (Cr), lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) from the ash material obtained from waste combustion was studied. The effects of ash surface topography and morphology on the leachability of these elements were examined using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The AFM (scan size 10 x 10 microns) and SEM images of the simulated ash pellet obtained at various operating temperatures (1000, 1400 and 1500 degrees C) showed significant microstructural and topographical changes. Ash pellets treated at 1000 degrees C contain porous and non-continuous surface. On the other hand, the ash pellet obtained at higher temperature (1500 degrees C) was found to contain a smooth, continuous and non-porous surface. The AFM height profile studies indicated that the top surface variation of the ash pellet at 1000, 1400 and 1500 degrees C were found to be -40.0 to 25.5, -3.7 to 4.7 and -0.10 to 0.66 nm respectively. The SEM analyses also confirmed the presence of smooth, non-porous outer surface of ash formed at 1500 degrees C. In addition, it also showed the presence of compact and rigid interior for the same ash pellet. The leachability of the heavy metals was determined using standard toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) test and the samples were analysed using atomic absorption spectroscopy. The results showed that the TCLP leaching ratios of the heavy metals were Cr = 0.30, Pb = 0.05 and Cd = 0.09 at 1000 degrees C. However, the ash obtained at 1400 degrees C showed negligible heavy metals leaching ratio while at 1500 degrees C no leachability was detected (TCLP concentration dropped to nondetectable levels). The use of high temperature treatment enabled the immobilization of heavy metals in the ash preventing their leaching. Such ash can be considered as a non-hazardous material for reuse or safe disposal.

Environmental Pollutants↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Disposal of sharps: implications and control.

This paper describes the current federal and state regulations governing disposal of "sharps" by health care facilities. Recent data on the implications of exposure to waste containing sharps are summarized, and appropriate methods for sharps disposal are outlined. Three institutions are cited as examples of the costs associated with implementation of a sharps disposal system.

Health Facilities↗