Morning walkers of Clifton Beach, Karachi, Pakistan, were in for a shock recently as the golden sand was covered in garbage, which included a large amount of bio-medical waste. The tide had brought with it several blood vials and open syringes to the shoreline. Pakistani media criticised the government for going easy on hospitals and research centres that continue to dump toxic waste in the open or directly into water bodies.
To story is not different in India. Despite regulations against the dumping of medical waste in the open, loads of them are disposed of in landfills along with other garbage every day. Other rules of segregation and safety measures are also flouted in some places. Coming in contact with such waster or open burning can prove harmful to the environment and our health.
Waste generated during the diagnosis, treatment or immunisation of human beings or animals in hospitals and clinics and during experiments in research labs are all biomedical waste. It includes used syringes, blood-stained cotton bandages, used I-V tubes, scalpels, blades, glass, microbiological cultures, discarded gloves, and linen. It also includes human or animal tissues, organs and body parts and fluids. Biomedical waste may be solid or liquid.
Picture Credit : Google