PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Refuse Disposal”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 541 records · Page 30Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Bacterial metabolism under conditions representing pesticide disposal pits.

Bacterial cultures were incubated with pesticides at concentrations ranging from 1 to 5,000 ppm. The species selected are important in one or more of the following biogeochemical processes: nitrogen fixation, nitrification, denitrification, sulfur oxidation, sulfate reduction, carbon dioxide fixation, and respiratory carbon dioxide evolution. The pesticides used were atrazine, alachlor, carbaryl, parathion, trifluralin, and 2,4-D. Bacterial cultures were exposed to commercial formulations of these pesticides and to pesticide samples from active disposal pits.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1997

Audit of waste collected over one week from ten dental practices. A pilot study.

An audit of the waste practices of ten general dental surgeries identified problems that have occurred due to the lack of specific dental guidelines or codes of practice in this area. Occupational health and safety requirements for types and locations of sharps containers, and lack of consensus on what constitutes a sharp, were identified as areas needing attention. Cross-infection control items, such as gloves, masks, single-use cups, and protective coverings, were found to constitute up to 91 per cent of total waste. When infectious waste was reclassified by the audit team as 'that waste which was visibly blood stained,' a reduction in waste in this category was made, during the audit, at each practice. The practice of disposing of radiographic fixer and developer into the sewerage system occurred in three out of the ten practices, even though the Australian Dental Association Inc. has discouraged this practice.

Blood↗
PubMed2003

[Non-inert industrial solid waste disposal in landfill dumps: evaluation of toxicity and implications for the environment and human health].

According to Brazilian recommended technical procedures (mainly NBR 10,004), solid waste must be previously classified in order to be disposed of adequately. Non-inert industrial solid waste is being dumped in landfill areas, most of which operate inefficiently and are located near the population and important ecosystems. In order to evaluate the potential toxicity of solid waste produced by various types of industries, 21 samples were analyzed according to NBR 10,004 procedures. Of these, 18 were classified as non-inert solid waste. The main substances contributing to the classification of these samples as non-inert waste were: aluminum, iron, manganese, phenol, and surfactants. Aluminum, manganese, and phenol are the main toxicologically relevant substances for human and environmental health because they can alter the quality of groundwater situated under solid waste disposal areas.

Brazil↗
PubMed1992

Health care: a leader or a follower? Reducing disposable waste.

We clearly have the means to examine and reduce the amounts and types of disposable medical waste that health care institutions are creating. Although there may be special circumstances that prevent specific hospitals, or specific departments within a hospital, from converting to alternative products, much improvement can still be made. There are several strong examples of hospitals across the United States with programs that have drastically cut the amount of waste they are generating. They have eliminated disposable cups and eating utensils from the cafeterias, shifted to reusable underpads and surgical linens, and established recycling programs for paper and cardboard. These few cases are not enough. We cannot be lulled into believing that these exceptional efforts on the part of a few institutions are all that is needed. We should remember that if Mother Nature had intended for us to pat ourselves on the back, our hinges would be different. What is needed is a clear statement from the health care industry of its responsibility to society with regard to managing its waste. Leadership begins with action. If the health care industry does not take steps to regulate its disposable waste, the government undoubtedly will. We do not need to wait for our supervisors or administrators to fashion credos for us. All staff members know there are numerous ways that they can affect the amount of waste produced at their hospitals. They can also begin to affect the attitudes of those working around them. The consequences of inaction are simply too great. As fictional as half-empty grocery stores may have sounded at the beginning of this article, the problems that we face with waste disposal are certainly as grim. If we wait for our state and federal governments to solve the problems, it may be too late; and if it is too late, the solutions that they develop will certainly be extreme. We have the technology and the ability to cut dramatically the amount of disposable waste that health care generates. In practically every case, the lower-waste options also save the institution money. It is time that we honestly challenged our need for today's convenience at the expense of tomorrow's quality of life.

Conservation of Natural Resources↗
PubMed1992

Reusables get high marks in adult incontinence care market.

The adult incontinence care market is coming of age. As environmental concerns gradually erode the popularity of disposables, nursing homes and hospitals are looking at reusables in a new light. In addition, the aging of the U.S. population is expected to increase the demand for incontinence care products. A recent study found that the sales of reusable cloth diapers and pads accounted for $385 million annually. All of these factors add up to a lucrative market for textile rental companies that can supply these products.

Conservation of Natural Resources↗