PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Waste Management”

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 1,045 records · Page 58Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Disposal of chemical weapons in the Baltic Sea.

Large quantities of chemical warfare agents were dumped in the Baltic Sea after World War II (WWII). This included 32,000 t of chemical munitions containing approximately 11,000 t of chemical warfare agents which were dumped into the Bornholm Basin and 2000 t of chemical munitions containing approximately 1000 t in the Gotland Basin. Because this material was contained in wooden crates, it was distributed throughout the Baltic. The long-term environmental impact of these agents is unknown.

Baltic States↗
PubMed2002

Occupational exposure to organic dust associated with municipal waste collection and management.

The aim of the study was to assess the occupational exposure of workers employed in the municipal waste collection and management industry. Air samples were collected in the workers' breathing zone; two samples were collected parallely. The assessment concerned exposure to organic dust, endotoxins, bacteria and fungi. The questionnaire data showed that workers found themselves in good or very good health. They also regarded noise, dustiness, odor, physical effort and changeable atmospheric conditions as the most strenuous factors. The highest dust concentrations were observed on the sites of waste collection (mean, 7.7 mg/m3) and composting (mean, 4.6 mg/m3). Samples collected on the composting site contained the largest amount of endotoxins (mean concentration, 76 ng/m3). This was followed by sorting facility (61 ng/m3) and waste collection area (36 ng/n3). Gram-negative rods (primarily intestinal) were found in all samples collected at workposts, which justified the adoption of the air concentrations of endotoxins as a criterion for assessing their hygienic conditions. Taking MAC for total suspended dust (4.0 mg/m3) and the concentration of 10 ng/m3 for endotoxin as the criteria for the exposure evaluation, it must be considered that waste collectors and composting site workers are working in poor hygienic conditions. Workers employed at the most hazardous workposts did not use personal protective equipment (glasses, antirespirators), thus infringing a fundamental condition for limiting health hazards (Directive 2000/54/EC).

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Managing radioactively contaminated infectious waste at a large biomedical facility.

Proper management of infectious waste containing radioactive material depends on three program elements. First, screening methods are required to identify medical waste containing radioactive material. Second, a means of managing the volume of waste identified has to be developed. Management includes identifying the radioisotopes, dealing with the physical requirements of the waste (e.g., the need for cold storage), and treating the material as a mixed waste. Finally, methods to limit production of waste at its source must be implemented. This includes educating the radioactive material users, enabling them with the means of reducing waste volume, and giving them feedback on how well they are implementing the waste reduction practices.

Academic Medical Centers↗
PubMed2006

Co-landfilling of pretreated waste: disposal and management strategies at lab-scale.

The present paper deals with the possible advantages that can be obtained by co-landfilling of municipal solid waste organic fraction (MSWOF) and bottom ash (BA) from the incineration of municipal solid waste. In particular, the aim of the research hereby presented is to check the effect exerted by different disposal (mixed or layered) and management strategies (anaerobic or semiaerobic conditions) for landfills in which MSWOF and BA are co-disposed. Three lab-scale reactors were set-up: the reactor A with mixed BA and MSWOF in anaerobic conditions, the reactor B with mixed BA and MSWOF in semiaerobic conditions, the reactor C with layered BA and MSWOF in anaerobic conditions. The results obtained showed that the aeration at the beginning of the experimental period for about 60 days led to a more rapid biodegradation of the organic matter and to an improved leachate quality in terms of both organic load and nitrogen content. Also a significant increase in the settling rate was observed at the end of the aeration phase. Therefore, the aerobic management can be advised as the most available strategy providing a more rapid biological and mechanical stabilization of the bulk waste. Otherwise, the disposal strategy did not exert any significant effect on the leachate characteristics; however, the layered configuration may be adopted in order to accelerate the main settlements.

Anaerobiosis↗
PubMed2004

Enhancement of carbon and nitrogen transformations during composting of municipal solid waste.

Appropriate management of municipal solid waste (MSW) is viewed as an integrated system encompassing waste minimization, recycling, and resource recovery. This has increased the interest in the composting process, in which the biodegradable portion of MSW is biologically converted into a valuable product that can be utilized as a soil conditioner or fertilizer. Effective operation of the composting process can be achieved by determining the optimal conditions for the controlling parameters in order to enhance the biological reactions during composting. Information on biodegradation rates are also essential for process design. Therefore, this study was conducted in order to examine the factors affecting process performance and transformation of essential elements of MSW such as carbon and nitrogen. A pilot study of in-vessel aerobic composting of MSW was carried out and the operating parameters, which affect biodegradation of carbonaceous and nitrogenous matter were studied using a specially designed rotating drum and a carbon-rich MSW. The effects of temperature, moisture content, and air flow rate were examined. The performance of the composting process was evaluated by measuring the carbon and nitrogen content during experiments, each of which lasted for 30 days. The study showed that enhanced transformations of carbon and nitrogen occur at 55 degrees C for temperature, 60% for moisture content, and 10L/kgh for air flow rate using the food-rich MSW generated in the Gulf countries.

Bacteria, Aerobic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Management of infectious waste in the home care setting.

Adaptation of infection control into practical protocol for the home care setting continues to present a challenge for home care nurses. Most information published on the management of infectious waste in home care is based on hospital protocols, and does not apply to home practice. Reasonable practices for disposal of infectious waste are not addressed by any authoritative resources. This presentation will identify principles of infection control, requirements, laws of regulating bodies, and steps that are measured chronologically to write administrative waste control policies.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.↗
PubMed2005

[Salt wasting syndrome caused by congenital, insufficient synthesis or aldosterone function--etiology, diagnosis and management].

Salt wasting syndrome is caused by a congenital or acquired synthesis disorder or by the aldosterone function disorder. It manifests itself by ionic disorders where the sodium and chlorine level decrease with the simultaneous potassium retention. Synthesised aldosterone is in the glomerular zone of the adrenal cortex. Symptoms of dyselectrolitemia are not distinctive, they develop within a few first days of life. The suction aversion, apathy, lack of growth or progressing, body mass loss is being noticed. The most often cause of salt wasting syndrome is the congenital cortical adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) caused by 21-hydroxylase enzyme deficit. The classic form with and without salt wasting (SW), as well as non-classic form is distinguished. The therapy of SW form depends on Hydrocortisone and Cortineff administering. The other forms of salt wasting syndrome occur not so often and these are: aldosterone synthesis deficit, dehydrogenase 3beta-hydroxysteroid deficit, lipoid cortical hyperplasia, adrenal hypoplasia congenital (AHC), adrenoleukodystrophy and pseudohypoaldosteronism. The knowledge of the symptoms and causes of salt wasting syndrome allows for the proper therapeutic management and contributes to the regular psychophysical infantile development of the children.

Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital↗
PubMed2002

A new, entropy based method to support waste and resource management decisions.

A new method is presented to quantify the potential of a system to concentrate or dilute substances. The approach is based on a comprehensive material flow analysis and Shannon's statistical entropy function that is transformed by a three-step procedure. The result is a new function that can be applied to any defined system with known mass-flows and substance concentrations. In combination with materials balances, the method yields quantitatively the Relative Statistical Entropy (RSE) and the Substance Concentrating Efficiency (SCE) of a given system. When applied to compare five solid waste incinerators of increasing technology levels, the method (1) gave evidence of the potential of modern incinerators to control material flows and (2) pointed to future directions for further improvement of incineration technology. Case studies demonstrate that the new tool is well suited to support and complement existing methods for decision making in waste and resource management such as LCA.

Conservation of Natural Resources↗
PubMed1996

Consideration of background exposures in the management of hazardous waste sites: a new approach to risk assessment.

The current approach to health risk assessment of toxic waste sites in the U.S. may lead to considerable expenditure of resources without any meaningful reduction in population exposure. Risk assessment methods used generally ignore background exposures and consider only incremental risk estimates for maximally exposed individuals. Such risk estimates do not address true public health risks to which background exposures also contribute. The purpose of this paper is to recommend a new approach to risk assessment and risk management concerning toxic waste sites. Under this new approach, which we have called public health risk assessment, chemical substances would be classified into a level of concern based on the potential health risks associated with typical national and regional background exposures. Site assessment would then be based on the level of concern for the particular pollutants involved and the potential contribution of site contaminants to typical background human exposures. While various problems can be foreseen with this approach, the key advantage is that resources would be allocated to reduce the most important sources of human exposure, and site remediation decisions could be simplified by focussing on exposure assessment rather than questionable risk extrapolations.

Arsenic↗
PubMed2001

Management, disposal and recycling of waste industrial organic solvents in Hong Kong.

An attempt has been made to establish a mass balance of industrial organic solvents in Hong Kong. It is estimated that only a small portion, less than 4%, of all the organic solvents consumed in Hong Kong are collected as waste solvents and properly treated, while the remainder are used either in the formulation of solvent containing products, or are lost to the environment through vapour emissions, leaks and spills, or dumped illegally. It was found that solvent recycling has been a common practice in some industries but the existing level of solvent recycling in Hong Kong is difficult to estimate. About 87.4% of all the waste organic solvents disposed of at the licensed facilities are potentially recyclable although whether they can be recycled in practice depends on many factors. Examples of existing waste organic solvent management and recycling practices from selected industries in Hong Kong are presented. The economic feasibility of current and future potential recycling systems is evaluated for a few selected cases. An integrated waste organic solvent management strategy is proposed to minimize adverse impacts of organic solvents to the environment and human health.

Conservation of Natural Resources↗
PubMed1999

The use of delay tanks in the management of radioactive waste from thyroid therapy.

An underground system of tanks was installed to delay the discharge of 131I waste from the thyroid therapy unit to the on-site sewage treatment plant. As a consequence, the level of radioactivity discharged to sewage has fallen by a factor of 530, reducing the radiation dose to hospital and auxiliary service staff. Cancer patients are no longer required to collect their urine, hence increasing the hygiene for all concerned. A model was developed of iodine waste which estimates the dose rate above the delay tanks and the activity of iodine discharged. The maximum effective dose to a member of the public due to the holding tanks is 40 microSv.year-1. There is now better management of the radioactive waste from the iodine therapy ward.

Humans↗
PubMed2004

Characterization and management of municipal solid waste of Srinagar-Garhwal.

Characterization and physico-chemical composition of municipal solid waste of Srinagar-Garhwal, a hill town of Uttaranchal were carried out to know the composition of solid waste for its efficient management. A total of 28,56,500 kg (2,856.5 tonnes) of solid waste was produced per annum. A disposal site away from the open bank of Alaknanda has been suggested. 1,500 m3 volume of land will be required for the land filling of half of the solid waste generated in Srinagar town. In addition to it, 60 numbers of trenches (size 10 m x 3 m x 1 m) with clear spacing of 2.0 m will be required for the composting of remaining half of the solid waste. A list of suggestions has also been made for reducing the waste generation at source.

Conservation of Natural Resources↗
PubMed2005

Biomedical waste in laboratory medicine: audit and management.

Pathology, microbiology, blood bank and other diagnostic laboratories generate sizable amount of biomedical waste (BMW). The audit of the BMW is required for planning proper strategies. The audit in our laboratory revealed 8 kgs anatomical waste, 600 kgs microbiology waste, 220 kgs waste sharps, 15 kgs soiled waste, 111 kgs solid waste, 480 litres liquid waste along with 33,000 litres per month liquid waste generated from labware washing and laboratory cleaning and 162 litres of chemical waste per month. Section wise details are described in the text. Needle sharps are collected in puncture proof containers and the needles autoclaved before sending to needle pit. The glass forms the major sharp category and is disinfected with hypochlorite before washing/recycling. All microbiology waste along with containers/plates/tubes are autoclaved before recycling/disposal. The problem of formalin fixed anatomical waste as histology specimens is pointed out. The formalin containing tissues cannot be sent for incineration for the fear of toxic gas release and the guidelines by the Biomedical waste rule makers need to be amended for the issue. The discarded/infected blood units in blood bank need to be autoclaved before disposal since chemical treatments are difficult or inefficient. The liquid waste management needs more attention and effluent treatment facility needs to be viewed seriously for hospital in general. The segregation of waste at source is the key step and reduction, reuse and recycling should be considered in proper perspectives.

Hospitals↗
PubMed2005

Management approaches to integrated solid waste in industrialized zones in Jordan: a case of Zarqa City.

There is a need to recognize the difficulties experienced in managing waste and to understand the reasons for those difficulties, especially in developing countries such as Jordan. Zarqa is a Governorate located in central Jordan, which has 2874 registered industries, making up more than 52% of the total industries in the country. Zarqa Governorate suffers from serious solid waste problems. These problems arise from an absence of adequate policies, facilitating legislation, and an environmentally enthused public, which therefore have a negative impact on the environment and health. Solid waste generation in Zarqa Governorate has increased exponentially and has polluted natural resources and the environment. A significant change in municipal solid waste generation was evident between the years 1994 and 2000. The Zarqa Governorate generated 482 tons/day in 2002 with a per capita rate of 0.44 kg/cap-day [Consulting Engineers, 2002, Feasibility study for the treatment of industrial wastewater in Zarqa Governorate. A project funded by METAP and Zarqa Chamber of Industry. Unpublished report]. This manuscript assesses the current operational and management practices of solid waste in the Zarqa Governorate; and evaluates the associated issues of solid waste collection, storage, transport, disposal and recycling in developing countries. The lack of techniques, financial funds and awareness among public and private sectors form an obstacle for achieving a successful environmental program. Several options are proposed to address management goals. Although Jordan became the first country in the Middle East to adopt a national environmental strategy; waste disposal is still largely uncontrolled and large quantities of waste go uncollected. Ensuring proper management of solid wastes, enforcing regulations, and implementing proper environmental awareness programs that will enhance the public understanding and achieve greater efficiency, are the findings of this study.

Agriculture↗