Hospital Waste Disposal in Bangladesh

with Special Reference to Dhaka City

and its Environmental Evaluation

Nasima Akter,
AMR Chowdhury
NM Kazi

December 1998

__________________________________________________________
Association for Rural Development and Studies (ARDS)
196/3 Shantibagh Dhaka1217 GPO Box: 644, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh
And
BRAC, Research and Evaluation Division
75 Mohakhali, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh

Published as “Medical Waste Disposal in Dhaka City: An Environmental Evaluation”. Publisher International Centre
for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B). Special Publication No. 87. February 1999.
 Abstract

The increased number of clinics and hospitals in Bangladesh resulting in the increased amount of waste
generation. Hospital waste contains toxic chemicals and hazardous materials from several diagnostic and
treatment processes. The improper disposal of hospital waste in the country poses a high health risk to
humans as well as the environment. The improvement of waste management in clinics and hospitals is
essential to minimize the spread of infectious diseases. The Association for Rural Development Studies
(ARDS), in collaboration with BRAC, has undertaken this study to formulate guidelines and
recommending a safe handling system of hospital waste in Bangladesh. A survey was conducted on the
characteristics of hospital waste and the present practice of hospital waste management in 38 hospitals
and clinics in Dhaka, Mymensingh and Dinajpur. The results revealed that the present waste disposal
system was unhygienic and unsafe. The knowledge level of hospital staff on the harmful impacts of
improper waste disposal was also very low. The need for raising awareness, improving waste handling
and disposal system, and implementing laws and regulations regarding hospital waste management are
recommended.

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3
 INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND

In Bangladesh, wastes generated in most urban and rural areas are disposed of by open dumping in either
low depressions or high areas for natural degradation. As a result the soil underlying the waste is
contaminated by pathogenic microorganisms, heavy metals, salts, and chlorinated hydrocarbons. The
wastes are also known to clog sewers and open drains, encroach roadways, diminish landscape
aesthetics and give unpleasant odours and dust (1). Little regard is given to the location of the dump and
many are found next to residential areas.

The safe disposal of Medical waste has been ignored in Bangladesh. Medical waste is a source of
contamination and pollution to both humans and the environment. Medical waste is capable of causing
diseases and illnesses to people, either through direct contact or indirectly by contaminating soil,
groundwater, surface water and air. Wind from these dumps can also carry pathogens and hazardous
materials. Where domestic animals are allowed to graze in open dumps, there is a risk of reintroducing
pathogenic microorganisms into human body through food chain. Medical waste therefore, poses a risk
to individuals, communities, and the environment if not carefully handled (2).

There has been little research done on Medical waste disposal in Bangladesh. A survey, conducted by
Rashid et. al. (3) on Medical Waste Disposal in Dhaka City, found that the government hospitals placed
all waste in open dustbins for up to two days. Other hospitals left their waste outside in open dustbins for
two to three days before a municipal truck would remove them. At the orthopedic hospital parts of
human bodies were also found in dustbins. Medical staff was found to generate revenue through sale of
Medical waste. Used syringes and other medical and clinical waste were sold for Tk. 20/kg at most
hospitals and clinics visited. Rashid (3) concluded that there was a lack of knowledge and interest in safe
waste disposal by most health workers and an absence of a budget to effectively implement safe waste
disposal. Kazi (4) also conducted a study on hospital waste in Dhaka and recommended several steps to

4
improve hospital waste management in Bangladesh.

Akter et al. (2) conducted a study on Medical waste disposal at BRAC Health Centres. The findings
indicate that there was a lack of awareness, concern, and knowledge on disposal of Medical waste not
only at BRAC health centers but also at the government hospitals, private laboratories, and private clinics.
Medical waste disposal systems in both the government hospitals and private clinics were severely
unhygienic.

Bangladesh lacks both effective waste management facilities and relevant government policy to guide
health providers and punish offenders. A major problem in implementing a waste management programme
for Medical waste is that any planned change in the collection or disposal systems is likely to be
sabotaged by the informal sector.

One estimate shows that some 5.2 million people (including 4 million children) die each year from waste-
related diseases in Bangladesh (5). The amount of municipal waste globally is predicted to be double by
the year 2000 and quadruple by 2025 (5). Concerned with this situation Agenda 21, adopted in the UN
Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janerio in 1992, set the following
goals with regard to waste management in cities:

• All countries must establish waste treatment and disposal criteria and develop the ability to monitor the
environmental impact of waste by the year 2000,
• By 2025, developing countries should ensure that at least half of the sewage, wastewater and solid
waste are disposed according to national and international guidelines.
• By 2025, all countries shall dispose of all waste according to international quality guidelines.

The Government Environmental Policy of 1992 has six general aims, which have been further detailed into
priority objectives for different sectors. These objectives are as follows:

• Prevent activities which are harmful to public health in all spheres, including development activities

5
 in the country,
• Integrate environmental concerns into the national health policy,
• Incorporate environmental issues in health education curriculum, and
• Ensure a healthy workplace for workers.

Although there is no specific clause in the Environmental Protection Act 1995 pertaining directly to the
handling, transportation or disposal of Medical waste. In Bangladesh, Medical waste can be classified
under Section 2(1) which defines waste as “any liquid, solid and radioactive substance that is discharged,
disposed, or dumped which may cause adverse/negative change to the environment.”

Objectives of the study

The objectives of this study were to assess the level of knowledge on Medical waste, to look into the
Medical waste disposal system, assess the effects of Medical waste on health and environment, and to
suggest guidelines for safe handling of Medical waste. To attain this objective the study aimed to:

• Know the level of awareness of the people related to medical services regarding Medical waste.
• Identify the potential impacts that Medical wastes pose to both humans and the natural environment.
• Assess the health and environmental risk of Medical waste (such as: chemicals used in laboratory,
pathogenic organism)
• Provide recommendations and guide lines on methods to handle Medical wastes with a minimum
impact to human health and the environment.

6
 MEDICAL WASTE: AN OVERVIEW

Characteristics of medical waste

Table 1 shows the types of medical waste according to Eigenheer & Zanon (6). They classified medical
waste according to their liquid and solid state.

Table 1. Types of medical wastes

Type Typical examples

Liquid Wastes
Biological waste Blood, excrement, body fluid etc.
Chemical waste Solutions, inorganic salts etc.
Over-date medicines Unused drugs, over-date drugs
Radioactive waste Wastes from radiology (iodine 125, iodine 131
etc.)
Solid Wastes

Perforating and cutting wastes Needles, syringes, scalpels, blades, broken

glass, vials
Non-perforating and non-cutting Wastes from treatment (dressings, stool napkins,
wastes plaster cast etc.)

Parts of the body: organs, placentas, tissue etc.

Over-date medicines (Expired drugs)

Household-type wastes: other wet and dry

waste

Medical wastes are also classified into four different categories based on sources and the potential

7
hazards they may cause. Such as,

a) Clinical waste: Clinical waste includes body fluid, drainage bags, blood collection tubes, vials,
culture dishes, other types of broken/unbroken glassware that were in contact with infectious agents,
gauze, bandage or any other materials that were in contact with infectious agents or blood,
pathological waste including organs, body parts, tissues. These are potentially dangerous and presents
a high risk of infection.

b) Laboratory waste: Laboratory waste is also of high risk category. This includes chemicals used in
the pathological laboratories, microbial cultures, and clinical specimens, slide, culture dish, needle,
syringes, as well as radioactive waste such as iodine-125, iodine -131, etc.

c) Non-clinical waste: Wrapping paper, office paper, and plastic that have not been in contact with
patient body fluid are the examples of non-clinical waste.

d) Kitchen waste: Kitchen waste includes food waste, dirty water, etc. It is also a potential source of
pests and vermin, thus creates an indirect hazard to staff and hospital patients.

Existing practice of Medical waste disposal

Waste is collected from a small bowl or bin, kept under each bed in a hospital or a clinic and then either
in a large plastic bag or a (plastic or metal) bucket. With a push cart these wastes are then carried to the
nearest municipal bin for dumping. The municipal bins are either within hospital premises or outside the
hospital. Waste from operation theaters, laboratories and hospital kitchens are also dumped into the same
municipal bins. This waste is then collected from municipal bins by trucks and carried to the landfill area
for final disposal.

Risk associated with improper disposal of Medical waste

Medical waste usually consists of clinical and non-clinical waste. Such pollutants can, therefore, be

8
broadly classified into solid wastes, and liquid waste (wastewater). Both are important sources of
environmental degradation and constitute a health hazard. For example the soil on which waste is dumped
is a reservoir of microbial life. Also waste-contaminated water contains pathogenic micro-organisms
which can cause many diseases.

Solid waste refers to non-liquid wastes or ‘refuse’. It includes dust, ash, food waste, rags, paper, plastic,
glass, metals, radioactive and pathological wastes. Liquid waste contain chemicals used in laboratories,
pathogens containing urine, blood and other sample for testing disposed off to the wastewater.

Waste attracts scavenging animals and bats. As it ferments it gives foul odors, favours fly feeding and
contaminates both water and air. During decomposition waste generates several gases, the most
important among which are methane (CH4), nitrogen (N2) and occasionally hydrogen sulphide (H2S). If
burnt, carbon di-oxide (CO2) is released. Methane and carbon di-oxide are greenhouse gases and have
potential greenhouse effects.

The total garbage generation in Dhaka city is 3,500 metric tonnes per day of which only 5.7% comes
from medical establishments (7). Most hazardous and toxic other than domestic or industrial waste is
clinical and medical waste which is disposed off in normal dustbin sparsely. There are over 500 clinics
and hospitals in Dhaka city. Approximately 200 metric tonnes of medical wastes are generated in the city
per day, 20% of this is infectious and hazardous (4). The Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies
(BCAS) survey showed that hospital staff, neighbours and waste collectors were not aware of safe
disposal of medical waste. Moreover, waste disposal practices were found to be quite unsafe as both
clinical and non-clinical waste were thrown together.

Health hazards related to Medical waste

(i) Injuries and accidents e.g. cut-injury, punctured wound, laceration, strain and sprain of the joint of
limbs and backache due to load hauling.

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ii. Infectious medical waste

Infectious hospital waste represents only a small part of total Medical waste. Yet, because of ethical
questions and infection risks, it is a focal point of public interest. Infectious waste contains different kinds
of pathogens or organisms that is potential for infection or disease if it is not properly disposed. Table 2
below shows few examples of different pathogen and diseases caused by them.

Table 2: Pathogen and diseases caused by those pathogen

Bacterial Tetanus, gangrene and other wound infection, anthrax, cholera, other
diarrhoeal diseases, enteric fever, shigellosis, plague, etc.

Viral Various hepatitis, poliomyelitis, HIV-infections, HBV, TB, STD rabies,

etc.

Parasitic Amoebiasis, giardiasis, ascariasis, ankylomastomiasis, taeniasis,

echinococcosis, malaria, leishmaniasis, filariasis, etc.

Fungal infection Various fungal infections like candidiasis, cryptococcoses,

coccidiodomycosis, etc.

Infected hospital waste can transmit diseases, especially if it finds portals of entry. “There is strong
epidemiological evidence from Canada, Japan and the USA that the main concern of infectious hospital
waste is the transmission of HIV/AIDS virus and more often of hepatitis B or C virus (HBV) through
injuries caused by syringes contaminated by human blood.” Other than these, there is potential risk of
TB/throat infection, typhoid, dysentery, diarrhoea, dacterial/viral diseases, ARV (Rabies), Sexually
transmitted disease, UTI/all C/S, Leprosy, etc. as the pathological laboratories do all these analysis to
diagnose the diseases (2).

iii. Hazardous Medical waste

Hazardous Medical waste consists primarily of chemicals and discarded cytotoxin drugs. Some common

10
hazardous chemicals, some of which are probable carcinogens or pose other health risks and effects, are
summarized in Table 3. This class of medical waste, while largely ignored poses risk to workers handling
them.

Table 3. Types of chemicals used in medical facilities, pharmaceuticals industries, and their uses and
effects (few available examples only).

Chemical Purpose of Properties Potential effects

Use
Xylene Removal of Toxic Inhalation of vapours can causes headaches,
seederwood euphoria, light-headedness, dizziness,
oil for TB drowsiness, nausea
slides Vapour can irritate skin, eyes, and lungs
Over exposure can lead to irregular heart beat,
fainting, and eventually death
Carbol fuchsin Fixing of Corrosive Readily absorbed and can cause severe burning if
sputum slides Poisonous brought into contact with skin/eyes/lungs
Inhalation results in chest pains, increased heart
rate, coughing, nose and throat irritation,
convulsion, and eventually death
Phenol Disinfectant Corrosive can cause severe burning to skin, eyes or lungs if
and sterilizer contacted
Combustible
can seriously affect lungs and respiratory system
Poisonous
if inhaled (pulmonary oedema, lung inflammation)
potentially fatal
Ingestion causes nausea, vomiting, gastro-
intestinal irritation and bleeding
Over exposure can lead to kidney and liver
damage
Hydrochloric Acid Fixing of Corrosive May cause burning sensation if brought into
sputum slides Poisonous contact with skin/eyes
Inhalation causes coughing/restricts breathing and
damage to upper respiratory system

11
Methylene Blue Fixing of Can cause damage if brought into contact with
blood & eyes, skin, clothing
sputum slides
Chemotherapy Treatment Hazardous Carcinogenic
and Anti- Toxic Other health risk
neoplastic
chemicals
Formaldehyde Pathology, Hazardous Health risk
autopsy, Toxic Suspected carcinogens
embalming
Eye, nose and throat irritation
Glutaraldehyde Photographic Hazardous Health risks
(fixer, developer) (X-ray) Toxic
Ethylene Oxide Sterilizers Hazardous Harmful to health
Toxic
Acid gases (e.g. Laboratory Hazardous Acute effects such as eye and respiratory
HCl, NOx, SO2) irritation
May enhance the toxic effect of heavy metals
Chlorine made Laboratory Hazardous Creates dioxin
material (e.g. Animal carcinogen and considered human
PVC) carcinogen
PCBs(Polychlorin Medicine Hazardous Harmful to fish and other aquatic forms of life
ated biphenyls) industries because they interfere with reproduction
Toxic
PCBs produce liver ailments and skin lesions in
human
In higher concentration, they can damage the
nervous system, and are suspected carcinogens
Heavy metals Instruments, Toxic Women and children are most vulnerable
(mercury, arsenic, treatment, (neurotoxic) Have carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic
and zinc, for Medicine effects
example) industries
Exposure lead to pneumonitis, bronchitis, muscle
tumor, irritability, gingivitis
Nerve damage
Enter to the food chain and concentrated
In humans, these metal can produce kidney and
liver disorders, weaken the bone structure,

12
 damage the central nervous system
Cause blindness, and lead to death
Source: Ref 1, 8, 9, and NWFSC MSDS Search;

13
 METHODOLOGY

The sample

Thirty-eight government and private medicals and clinics, and diagnostic centers were purposively
included in the study (Annex 1). Environmental examinations were conducted mainly in Dhaka city, with a
few selected sites in Mymensingh and Dinajpur districts. These were selected as large, medium and small
category as well as the type of services they rendered. A comprehensive investigation was made to see
the waste disposal practices of 38 hospitals and diagnostic centres in Dhaka, Mymensingh and Dinajpur
districts. These consisted of 11 private clinics, 13 diagnostic laboratories, and 14 government medical
facilities. Government hospitals and clinics, and private laboratories and clinics were also visited in
Mymensingh and Dinajpur. A government hospital, a private laboratory, and a health and family planning
centre were visited in Mymensingh. Two private clinics, three government medical facilities, and a private
laboratory were visited in Dinajpur. The remaining of medical facilities were visited in Dhaka.

Data collection

Data were collected through checklist, field observations, interview, and laboratory analysis during March
1997 - September 1998.

(i) Field observations: Field observations were made at each location, using a checklist that focused on
potential problems posed by disposal of Medical waste. Waste generation sites (ward, laboratory,
kitchen), laboratory (sample collection site, place of analysis, washing basin), and waste disposal sites
(dustbin, dumping site, drainage system, wastewater flow) were observed. Current waste management
system and the safety measures taken in the pathological laboratory and clinics were also observed.

(ii) Interview: Interviews were conducted with people involved in providing medical services and
handling and disposing medical waste. At Dhaka, 22 directors or divisional heads of different institutes,
17 doctors and nurses, 17 laboratory technicians, 19 cleaners, and 17 garbage dwellers (tokai) were
interviewed. Divisional heads, doctors on duty, and laboratory technicians were interviewed at
Mymensingh and Dinajpur. Generally questions were geared towards the basic understanding of the
respondents.

14
(iii) Laboratory analysis: Wastewater and solid waste from the drainage and disposal sites were
collected for pathological (microbial) analysis, typhoid, tuberculosis, shigella, and diarrhoea. Samples
were collected from dustbins where Medical waste was dumped and from hospital wastewater.
Sampling sites are shown in Annex 2.

Limitations
Any study involving interviews and observations will be prone to biases. We have tried to maintain an
unbiased outlook when collecting data and conducting interviews. During interviews some respondents
tried to give us the answers they thought we were looking for, even if it seemed contrary to what other
respondents in the same area said or what we observed.

There were difficulties in finding a laboratory to analyse waste samples. There is no advanced system in
Bangladesh to analyse hospital wastewater or solid waste for chemicals or pathogens except few
pathogens. It is difficult, therefore, to calculate the extent to which the results of the study may have been
affected. In spite of these restrictions, the information presented in this report is believed to maintain a
credible degree of precision in detailing the conditions and circumstances of handling medical waste.

15
 FINDINGS

INTERVIEWS

Medical Care

Hospitals are classified according to the number of beds and number of patients visited each day (Annex
3). At Infectious disease hospital (TB hospital) there were 600 beds and Dhaka Medical College
hospital has 800 beds. Sohrawardi Hospital has 300 beds but about 1000 outdoor patients visit each
day, Ibrahim Memorial Diabetic Hospital (BIRDEM) has 546 beds and outdoor patients were 4000 in
each day.

Most of the hospitals and clinics give medical care for all. Only a few hospitals give service for specific
groups, e.g. Shishu (children) hospital, Dhaka ENT hospital.

Most of the hospitals have less then 20 doctors. There were only four hospitals in which the number of
doctors ranges from 42-105. Some diagnostic centres or clinics have neither nurse nor cleaner.

Waste disposal
Different methods were used by the hospitals, clinics and pathological laboratories to dispose of waste.
These included burning, burying, selling, dumping, re-use and removal by municipal trucks. It was found
that slides were re-used, and no safety measure were undertaken by the laboratory technicians. Only
soap and water were used for cleaning used syringes.

It was found that saline bags, water used in developing x-ray films, syringes, vials, slides, empty packets
and bottles were collected and sold. Medical waste were collected by hospital authorities, cleaners, ayas
and street archins and sold to hawkers and small traders. Table 4 shows the list of items and their selling
prices at the Mymensingh Medical College Hospital.

16
Table 4 Price list of waste items sold by Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (as of 1997)

Item Price

X-ray water Tk 11.25/litre

Poly bag or jute bag Tk 0.50/bag
450 ml bottle Tk 1.50/piece
250 ml bottle Tk 0.25/piece
100 ml bottle Tk 0.10/piece
Saline bag (1000 ml - 500 ml) Tk 20/kg
Ampoule or vial Tk 2/kg

Syringes, plastic materials, paper, and cartons were gathered daily and burned monthly or after certain
period at open pits in some hospitals or clinics. In most cases, there was no specific place for burning
Hospital waste. Usually waste burning took place in open fields, hospital surroundings and/or outside
hospital or behind the clinic facilities. In government hospitals soiled bed sheets and mattresses were
burned on-site. Cleaners and sweepers were responsible for burning waste. Table 5 shows common
modes of Medical waste disposal and Table 6 shows what items were disposed off in different disposal
systems.

In some hospitals Medical wastes were buried near the medical facilities or within the hospital compound.
In some hospitals, sweepers buried fetuses and placenta in soil near the rivers or the morgues. Most
hospitals dumped different wastes together in a common place like roadside, hospital surrounding, and
municipal dustbins. People handling Hospital waste were often cleaners, sweepers, ward boys, ayas, and
laboratory assistants.

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Table 5. Waste disposal system at different hospitals as mentioned by the respondents

Mode of disposal Director/Head Doctor/nurse Cleaners

Sold 14 9 9
Burned 14 10 7
Buried 6 1 2
Dumped 16 6 8
Other * 9 12 11
*collected in an open place, roof of the building, drum or bucket which was taken by van or sweeper to dump in a
municipal bin; saline bag re-used for urination, laboratory waste burn with acid, autoclave the waste before
disposal, chemical waste thrown in to the basin.

Table 6. Items disposed off by different disposal system

Sold Burned Buried Dumped Container/ Destroyed by
Basin acid/ Autoclave
Container Clothes Common waste Disposable Tips Cotton
Syringe Gauze Needle syringe Reagent Needle
Saline bag Cotton Syringe Saline bag set Chemicals Syringe
Disposable Mattress Blood lancets Gloves Blood TB slides
syringe Bandage Specimen Needle Urine Sputum pot
Bucket AIDS patient’s collection pot Cotton Stool Vials used for
Saline set clothes Blood Gauze Sputum sample
Needle Rabies patient’s Urine Bandage Disposable collection from
X-ray water clothe Stool Pad syringe the patients
Plastic bottle Paper Sputum Paper Needle
Ampoules Gloves Saline bag Plastic Gloves
Vials Saline bag Damaged body TB slide Slide
Saline set parts Sputum Broken glass
X-ray film Placenta Polythene
Needle Slides Blood sample
Syringe cotton Tissue paper
Blood bag Common
Plaster of Paris wastes
Apron Dressing
Disposable Stool
syringe Urine
Plastic Broken tube
Sputum pot Acid
TB slide bottle
Blood Syringe

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 Urine Paper packet
Stool Placenta
Bed sheet

There were several modes of waste transport, 44.4% of the respondents mentioned that waste were
carried by open bucket and plastic bowl (23.9%). Other modes of transports are listed in Table 7.
Medical wastes were disposed off in several places (Table 8). Most wastes were disposed off in
municipal bins (59%) without any treatment or separation. This was also the case in Mymensingh and
Dinajpur. The diagnostic centre in Mymensingh disposed contagious waste after autoclaving.

Table 7. Mode of Medical waste transportation mentioned by the respondents in Dhaka

Mode of transport Director/Head Doctor/nurse Cleaners Total answer

Covered bucket 4 1 - 5 (5.68%)
Open bucket 13 14 12 39 (44.38%)
Cart 1 - 1 2 (2.2.7%)
Plastic bag 1 - 1 2 (2.2.7%)
Plastic bowl 5 9 7 21 (23.86%)
Drum 4 2 6 12 (13.64%)
Basket 2 2 2 6 (6.89%)
NS - - 1 1 (1.14%)

Table 8. Places of Medical wastes disposed off in Dhaka City mentioned by the respondents

Place of disposal Director /Head Doctor/ nurse Cleaners Laboratory

Municipal corporation’s dustbin 14 10 12 11
Pit near hospital (dig a hole) 5 3 2 3
Open field/road way/ road side 3 2 4 2
Canal water/ river/Lake/ditch

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Own net house/closed house/ own - 1 - 1
closed dustbin 2 2 1 -

There was no provision for formal training to teach staff how to dispose off Medical waste. Although they
received training on laboratory analysis, this was done in an adhoc method. Medical officers were aware
that Medical waste could pose a problem. However, most of them thought that they were handling the
situation sufficiently. Nurses, laboratory technicians, and ayas, had no training on handling and disposal of
medical waste.

Of the 82 respondents 32 (38%) mentioned that they did not receive any training on handling Medical
waste. Twenty four respondents said that they were told by the authorities about waste disposal. Only
seven respondents mentioned that they received training. This was not particular on handling and disposal
of medical waste. Few directors, doctors, and laboratory assistants (20) mentioned that they received
academic training on nursing or public health only, which was not specifically on Medical waste issues
(Annex 4). Similar results were found in Mymensingh and Dinajpur.

Thirty-four (43.59%) respondents mostly directors and divisional heads said that they had not been told
by anyone about Medical waste disposal (annex 5). Thirty-six (46.15%) respondents said that they were
told by the director or higher authority. Only two directors mentioned that they got the idea from health
policy about medical waste disposal. In fact none of the respondent discussed the negative effect of
medical waste or the importance of safe disposal of medical waste.

Knowledge
There was insufficient awareness about the issue of medical waste among the respondents at all levels.
Out of 107 responses, 88 (82.24%) described Medical waste as general waste (Annex 6) of which 21
were directors or divisional heads, 17 doctors or nurses and the rest were street archins or cleaners, or
laboratory assistants. Only one director and four laboratory assistants considered used chemicals as

20
general waste. Eleven laboratory assistants, one doctor and one director considered laboratory samples
of blood, urine, stool, sputum as medical waste etc. One cleaner felt that sometimes body parts could be
considered as medical waste. It seems that most people were not aware what to be considered as
medical waste. The respondents were also not aware of the harmful or hazardous elements of medical
waste. Few respondents (23 of 110) mentioned that pathogens present in medical waste might be
hazardous to human health. Only six (5.4%) respondents (either director or doctors) explained the
hazardous elements of medical waste (Annex 7). Out of 104 respondents, 21 (20%) did not recognise
the impact of medical waste on health (Annex 8). A few respondents said that poisonous chemicals or
pathogens can also be transmitted to human body from medical waste. With regard to the environmental
impact of medical waste, 35 (37%) respondents (most were street archins and cleaners) said that they did
not know of any. Some directors (14) and doctors (8) were also un-aware about environmental impacts
of medical waste (Annex 9). Only three heads and 6 doctors explained it well. Divisional heads or
directors in Mymensingh and Dinajpur were also not aware about the environmental impact of medical
waste. This is likely due to the lack of environmental awareness among the respondents and the majority
of people in the country.

Twenty (11 were street archins) out of 94 respondents could explain how plastic or glass waste was
recycled (Annex 10). Out of 93 respondents, 69 (74%) did not know or were not aware about the
harmful impacts of recycling. Only a director, a doctor and a laboratory technician said that it was not
harmful if burnt at 1200 C. Fourteen respondents (15%) said that recycling was not harmful but were
unable to explain. Only two directors, three doctors, and two laboratory technicians could explain the
harmful impacts of recycling as burning of plastic, toxic chemical or pathogen containing materials may
have harmful impact if it is recycled.

Observations

Most clinics and laboratories had no waste management system in place. Municipal bins and dumping
grounds were often used for disposal. They were found less concerned about proper disposal of Medical
waste. BIRDEM Hospital, Infectious Diseases Hospital in Dhaka, and Dancun’s Diagnostic Centre in

21
Mymensingh autoclaved waste and used less harmful chemicals for fixing of slides. However, they still
placed all their wastes in municipal bins like other clinics and laboratories. Some other private clinics and
laboratories had a terrible edict in handling their samples and wastes. The management of most of these
hospitals and clinics do not concern themselves with disposal, and believe that placing waste in municipal
bins or down the drain is enough.

Some clinics and laboratories used to clean used syringes and instruments by disinfectant such as dettol
and detergents. These agents are less harmful than phenol, which most hospitals used for disinfection. In
all laboratories and clinics, liquid waste was disposed off in drain, latrine or municipal garbage bin.
Autoclave was used in most cases for sterilization, and this avoids the use of phenol.

The real situation of the government hospitals and clinics visited were unbelievable. Unsanitary
pathological analysis, cleaning, and testing were evident in the laboratory. Laboratories re-used syringes
and it seemed that they re-used needles as well. Some mentioned that they re-used gloves, musk, slides,
test tubes etc.

Laboratory analysis

Type of tests conducted in laboratories of different hospitals and diagnostic centres were blood test or
serology, urine, stool, sputum, X-ray, ultra-sonogram, endoscopy, radio therapy, microbial test /infectious
disease (e.g. diarrhoea, dysentery, TB), kidney function, diabetic, ECG, AIDS, cancer (Biopsy), skin test
(Leprosy AFB), and CT scan. Almost all laboratories performed blood, stool and urine tests. There were
only three hospitals which specifically dealt with infectious diseases (Infectious Diseases Hospital Dhaka
and TB clinic Dinajpur). There were few hospitals also testing for AIDS, cancer, and leprosy.

Exposure to infectious diseases

There were several incidents (10 out of 17 cases) of injury due to the exposure of Medical waste inside
or outside of hospital premises. These were as follows:

• Hands cut due to handling of broken glasses

• Fingers permanently damaged/became curved due to injury by needle,
• Right hands became paralyzed by injury from a needle,

22
• Two legs became paralyzed due to injury from a needle,
• Skin diseases on legs and hands,
• Puss due to injury, and
• Ulcer on legs.

Laboratory analysis of hospital waste

Few selected pathogens were tested from collected hospital waste. These were Salmonella, Shigella,
Mycobacteria, and Amoeba (Table 9). Samples were collected from several sources including dustbins
(where hospital wastes were dumped), wastewater from hospital drains, and laboratory basins from
different hospitals. Names of sampling sites are given in annex 14. Laboratory analysis showed improper
disposal of Hospital waste and severe contamination of these infectious wastes to the environment.
Laboratory analysis shows high levels of contamination from infectious wastes at various sources in the
environment (Table 9). Children, adults, and animals all have the potential to come into contact with these
wastes that may pose severe health risks to them.

Table 9. Pathogens (number per gm in solid sample and per 100ml in liquid) in hospital waste analyzed
from different sources

Source of Salmonella/ Shigella/ 100ml Mycobacteria/ Amoeba/ 100ml

waste sample 100ml or gm or gm 100ml or gm or gm
Dustbin 2.5x10 6.4x10 2.3x10 3.8x10
Basin water 2.7x10 1.1x10 1.1x10 3
Dustbin 3.2x10 3.6x10 4.7x10 5.3x10
Basin water 3.2x10 1.7x10 15 <1
Basin water 1.6x10 35x10 5 <1
Dustbin 2.3x10 7.7x10 1.8x10 6.2x10
Basin water 1.8x10 0.5x10 2.9x10 1.3x10
Dustbin 1.2x10 2.0x10 3.5x10 7.4x10
Dustbin 1.1x10 1.0x10 2.5x10 5.0x10

23
 Basin water 4.0x10 1.0x10 18 <1
Soil 3.1x10 7.2x10 3.4x10 2.7x10
Water 6.8x10 1.2x10 7 5
solid 2.5x10 2.0x10 5.6x10 3.9x10
water 2.9x10 3.1x10 3 1.2x10

HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

Medical wastes are a source of contamination and pollution to both humans and the natural environment
as discussed in this paper. Improper disposal may be hazardous if it leads to contamination of water
supplies or local sources used by nearby communities or wildlife. Sometimes exposed waste may become
accessible to scavengers and children if a landfill is insecure. Medical wastes are potentially capable of
causing disease and illness in man, either through direct contact or indirectly by contamination of soil,
groundwater, surface water and air. Wind blown dusts from these dumps also have the potential to carry
pathogens and hazardous materials. Where domestic animals are allowed to graze in open dumps, there
is a risk of reintroducing pathogenic micro-organisms into the food chain. Medical wastes therefore pose
a risk to individuals, communities, and the environment if not carefully handled.

The pathological laboratories of medical center examine blood, stool, urine, and sputum. The chemicals
used for staining and preservation of slides and for the sterilization and cleaning of equipment and
surroundings are potentially harmful to laboratory technicians and the environment. Most of the chemicals
are poured down the sink and drain out next to the clinic. Children, adults, and animals all have the
potential to come into contact with these chemicals. Xylene, phenol, methylene blue, hydrochloric acid,
chlorine and carbol fuchsin are all used, and some can have very damaging effects (2). Other than these, a
large number of chemicals also used in different diagnosis and treatment (e.g. chemotherapy).

Improper medical waste disposal may have the following environmental and health impacts.

24
A. The main health risks of Medical wastes are summarized below (modified from WHO, 1999) (10).

• Contamination of drinking water. Possibility of leachate entering an aquifer, surface water or drinking
water system.

• Non-biodegradable antibiotics, antineoplastics and disinfectants disposed of into the sewage system
may kill bacteria necessary for treatment of sewage. Antineoplastics flushed into watercourses may
damage aquatic life or contaminate drinking water.

• Burning of waste at low temperatures or in open container results in release of toxic pollutants (e.g.
dioxin) in the air.

• Carcinogenic waste such as heavy metals, chemical solvents and preservatives pose serious human
health risks not only to workers but to the general public as well.

• Inefficient and insecure sorting and disposal may allow drugs beyond their expiry date.

• Unprotected and insecure landfill may pose health hazard to the scavengers and inhabitants at the
vicinity.

B. Environmental hazards related to Medical waste

The following are environmental impacts associated with improper disposal of Medical wastes:

• Pollutants from Medical waste (e.g. heavy metals and PCBs) are persistent in the environment.

• Accumulation of toxic chemicals within soil (proximity to agricultural fields, humans, soil organisms,
wildlife, cattle).

• Groundwater contamination, decrease in water quality.

• Bio-accumulation in organism’s fat tissues, and biomagnify through the food chain.

• Repeated and indiscriminate application of chemicals over a long period of time has serious adverse
effects on soil microbial population - reducing the rate of decomposition, and generally lowering the
soil fertility.

25
• Pathogens lead to long-term accumulation of toxic substances in the soil.

• Specimens collected for analysis have the potential to cause disease and illness in man, either through
direct contact or indirectly by contamination of soil, groundwater, surface water, and air

• Wind blown dusts from indiscriminately dumping also have the potential to carry hazardous
particulate.

• With domestic animals being allowed to graze in open dumps, there is added risk of reintroducing
pathogenic micro-organisms into the food chain.

• Public nuisance (e.g. odors, scenic view, block the walkway, aesthetics, etc.).

• Improper sterilization of instruments used in labour room may cause infection to mother and child.

• Combination of both degradable and non-degradable waste increase the rate of habitat destruction
due to the increasing number of sites necessary for disposal of wastes (degradation of habitat).

• Plastic bags, plastic containers, if not properly destroyed may contaminate the soil and also reduces
the chance for water percolation into the soil during precipitation.

• Open air burning does not guarantee proper incineration, and releases toxic fumes (dioxin) into the
atmosphere from the burning of plastics i.e., PCB’s.

26
 CONCLUSION

From this investigation it is found that the contagious disease section of pathological laboratories produce
hazardous and pathological waste. Wastes from hospital such as placenta, syringes, needles, sputum pots,
chemical agents are all potential areas of concern for hospital waste management.

In most cases wastes were thrown into municipal bins, without regard to the harmful effects they may
pose to human health and the environment. Proper laboratory techniques (both preparation and
analysis), and disposal were completely disregarded. Various methods were used by the clinics to
dispose off waste such as burning, burial, and entombing. None of the clinics re-used syringes and other
things and sold their waste. In contrast, government hospitals re-used syringes and sold medical waste.

According to the US Army Centre for Health and Preventive Medicine (1995), Medical waste must be
segregated from regular waste starting at the point of generation and continuing during storage, in
transportation and through to point of treatment. Unfortunately, there is no structured form of medical
wastes treatment in Bangladesh, and most wastes are dumped in open areas for natural degradation or
re-sold by scavengers (2). A significant number of urban poor in Bangladesh depend on collection of
secondary materials for their livelihoods. The scavengers sort out waste at dumping site, usually open
dumps and sell anything that can be recycled. The waste pickers do not take any special precaution for
sorting out waste and thus are vulnerable to infection, serious injury or sickness.

There was no safety measure observed in dealing with waste disposal or laboratory analysis of infectious
or hazardous samples. The chemicals used for staining and preservation of “slides” and for sterilization
and cleaning of equipment and “surroundings” are potentially harmful to laboratory technicians and the
environment. This is due to lack of environmental awareness among the respondents.

The findings indicate that there is a need to improve Medical waste handling and disposal methods. In
most government hospitals, private laboratories and clinics waste is disposed in municipal bins without
considering the harmful effects they may pose to human health and the environment. There is no waste

27
disposal system in place to manage Medical waste. Most hospital officials visited believed that they were
disposing their waste in an appropriate manner. Though some medical officers did show their concern
and generally wanted to improve the situation, most health care workers had only a basic understanding
of health care and did not perceive that improper handling or disposal of medial waste could be a hazard.

Some methods are suggessted on safe handling and disposal of most serious chemicals and pathological
waste.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made to improve the medical
waste management in Bangladesh:

1. Raise awareness and education on medical waste issues,

2. Proper waste management strategy is needed to ensure health and environmental safety from
medical waste,
3. Segregation of medical waste should be done at the point of generation. Different coloured
bags should be used for collection of hazardous and non-hazardous waste,
4. Safety protection must be taken in handling hazardous waste. Gloves, masks, aprons, etc.
must be used during handling of medical waste,
5. Hazardous medical waste may be collected from different hospitals and treated centrally.
Methods of treatment should be selected carefully,
6. To minimize the generation of medical waste, good housekeeping, replacement of
chemicals, etc. may be adopted,
7. Training programme on safe handling of medical waste can be organised for medical staff,
8. Government should promulgate and implement laws and regulations regarding medical waste
management.

28
 REFERENCES

1. World Bank. 1991.

Environmental assessment sourcebook. Volume II: Sectoral Guidelines. World Bank Technical Paper
No 140, Environmental Department, The World Bank. Washington, DC, USA.

2. Akter N., R. E. Acott, S. A. Chowdhury, 1998.

Medical waste disposal at BRAC health centres : an environmental study. BRAC Research, Research
and Evaluation Division, 75 Mohakhali C/A, Dhaka 1212

3. Rashid, S. 1996.
Medical waste disposal in Dhaka city: A survey. Unpublished thesis. North-South University. Dhaka,
Bangladesh.

4. Kazi, N.M. 1997.

Waste Management in Dhaka. Bangladesh Environmental Newsletter, vol.8, No.4. Bangladesh Center
for Advanced Studies (BCAS), Dhaka, Bangladesh.

5. Haque, 1994. (?)

Waste Ladfill and Hospital Waste Incineration. Roteb-Solid Waste Consultency, Kleinpolderplein 5,
P.O.Box 10902-3004. Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

6. Eigenheer Emilio and Zanon, U. 1991.

O que fazer com os residuos hospitaleres. Proposta para classificacao, embalagem, coleta e destinacao
final, Arquivos Brasileiros de Medicina, Vol. 65, No. 3.

7. Asaduzzaman, M., & Hye, S.A. 1997.

When both market and state fail: The crisis of solid waste management in urban Bangladesh. In Crisis in
Governance. A review of Bangladesh’s Development 1997. Centre for policy dialogue. University Press

29
Limited, Dhaka, Bangladesh

8. BAN & HCWH. 1999.

Medical Waste in Developing Countries. An analysis with a case study of India, and A critique of
the Basel -TWG guidelines. Basel Action Network (BAN) secretariat, Asia_Pacific Environmental
Exchange, 1827 39th Ave. E., Seattle, WA. 98112 USA.

9. Shaner, H. 1997.
Becoming a Mercury Free Facility: A Priority to be Achieved by the Year 2000. Professional
Development Series; American Society for Healthcare Environmental Services of the American Hospital
Association. USA.

10. WHO, 1999.

Guidelines for safe disposal of unwanted pharmaceuticals in and after emergencies. Essential Drugs and
Other Medicines Department, World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, CH-1211 Geneva 27,
Switzerland (web site).

30
Annex 1. List of hospitals studied

Type 1: Govt. or public hospitals

1. Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka

2. Infectious disease hospital (T.B. hospital), Dhaka
3. Ibrahim Memorial Diabetic Hospital (BIRDEM), Dhaka
4. Sohrawardi Hospital, Dhaka
5. Shishu Hospital, Dhaka
6. Leprosy Hospital, Dhaka
7. Infectious Disease Hospital, Dhaka
8. Cancer Institute and Hospital, Dhaka
9. Orthopedic Hospital, Dhaka
10. TB Clinic, Dinajpur
11. Dinajpur Medical College and Hospital, Dinajpur
12. Parbotipur Thana Health and Family Planning Centre, Dinajpur
13. Mymensingh Medical College and Hospital, Mymensingh
14. Rupshi Government Health and Family Planning Centre, Mymensingh

Type 2: Private hospitals

1. Holy Family Red Crescent Hospital, Dhaka
2. ODSB Maternity Hospital, Dhaka
3. Delta Medical Centre and Clinic, Dhaka
4. Dhaka ENT Hospital Clinic, Dhaka
5. Aroggaya Nikaton Hospital, Dhaka
6. Ayasha Memorial Hospital, Dhaka
7. Medicheck Clinic, Dhaka
8. Aivhy Maternal and Shishu Hospital, Dhaka
9. Rashmono clinic, Dhaka
10. Rogmukti Clinic, Dinajpur

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11. Seven Day Clinic, Dinajpur

Type 3: Diagnostic centers

1. Lion Dental & Physiotherapy centre, Dhaka

2. Reliance Diagnostic Centre, Dhaka
3. Green X-ray & Green Laboratory, Dhaka
4. Dhaka laboratory, Dhaka
5. Popular Diagnostic Center, Dhaka
6. Executive Health Check Center, Dhaka
7. IbneSina laboratory, Dhaka
8. City Diagnostic Clinic, Dhaka
9. Prophesy Diagnostic Centre, Dhaka.
10. General Diagnostic Centre, Dhaka
11. National Diagnostic Centre, Dhaka
12. Dankan’s Diagnostic Centre, Mymensingh
13. Doctor’s Pathology, Dinajpur

Annex 2. List of hospitals from where samples were taken for laboratory analysis of solid waste
and wastewater.

1. Sohrawardi Hospital, Dhaka

2. Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, Dhaka
3. Infectious Diseases Hospital, Dhaka
4. Delta Medical Centre and Clinic, Dhaka
5. Dhaka ENT Hospital Clinic, Rd. 4/A, H 56, Dhanmondi
6. Popular diagnostic Center, 272/ Elephant rd.

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Annex 3. Number of patients in a day (Dhaka only)

No. of beds No. of No. of outdoor No. of

hospitals patients/day hospitals
10-30 6-7 1-5 1 -3
50,55 2 15-50 3-7
100 1 70-150 3-4
300 & 305 2 160-400 2-3
400 & 546 2-3 900 1
600 1 1000 1
800 1 4000 1
Not stated 7 Not stated 3-4

Annex 4. Training or special precautions on how to handle Hospital

wastes mentioned by the respondents

Respond of training Director Doctor Cleaners Laboratory Total

/Head / nurse Assistant. answers
No training received 11 4 10 7 32 (38.1%)
Told by authority 8 4 9 3 24 (28.57%)
Training (little/small)/ special 2 3 - - 5 (5.95%)
training (e.g. infection)
Training (Formal) e.g. UNICEF, 2 - - - 2 (2.38%)
Gono Shasthya)
Academic training (nursing, public 2 10 1 7 20 (23,81%)
health)
Reading book, journal, news paper - 1 - - 1 (1.19%)

Annex 5. Sources of voice about disposal of medical wastes

33
 Respond of concerns Director Doctor Cleaners Laboratory Total
/Head /nurse Assistant answers
No 15 7 6 6 34 (43.59%)
Yes, authority/Doctor/Director/ nurse, 4 10 11 11 36 (46.15%)
senior nurse
Somebody outside institute (NGO - - - - -
worker, researcher)
Mass media (Radio, TV) 1 - 2 - 3 (3.85%)
Educational institute 1 2 - - 3 (3.85%)
Get idea from health policy 2 - - - 2 (2.56)

Annex 6 General composition of hospital waste mentioned by the respondents

Composition of Hospital waste Director Doctor/ Street Cleaners Laboratory Total

/Head nurse Archins Assistant answer
Normal waste (gauge, bandage, saline 21 17 17 18 15 88
bag, plastic, syringe, needle, food waste)
Including above+ chemical/ acids 1 - - 4 5
Including no.1+ tested sample (blood, 1 1 - 11 -
urine, stool, sputum etc.)
No. 1, 2, and 3 together - - - -
All mentioned above or No. 1 + body - - 1 - 1
part of the patients

Annex 7 Knowledge on hazardous or harmful elements

Knowledge on toxic, hazardous Dorector Doctor Street Cleaners Laboratory Total

or harmful elements /Head /Nurse Archins Assistant answers
Don’t know 1 - 5 3 2 11

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 Nothing special to mention 6 4 2 3 2 17
Infectious/complex 4 6 1 1 3 15
disease/pathogen/ blood/pus
Pathogen (malaria, diarrhoea, 8 4 2 5 4 23
dysentery, HB+)
Toxic chemical/ injection - 2 5 4 6 17
Syringe/ blade/ broken bottle 2 2 2 1 1 8
Detailed explanation with toxic or 5 - 1 - - 6
hazardous things
Yes, toxic things may be present 3 4 2 3 1 13
but no explanation

Annex 8 Experience on how hospital waste affect human health

Knowledge about affect on Director Doctor/ Street Cleaners Laboratory Total

human health /Head nurse archins Assistant answers
Don’t know/ do not do 4 3 5 6 3 21 (20.19%)
Does affect but no explanation 8 6 6 3 6 29 (27.88%)
Waste mixed with hazardous chemical 3 3 1 - 4 11 (10.58%)
or pathogen
Syringe needle contaminated with 4 4 3 2 1 14 (13.46%)
hazardous chemical or pathogen
Plastic bag or plastic waste/saline bag - 1 1 - - 2 (1.92%)
Have not seen to affect any one 5 6 1 5 2 19 (18.27%)
Pathogen (Dysentery, stomach ache, 2 - - 4 2 8 (7.69%)
diarrhoea etc.)

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Annex 9 Knowledge on Environmental Impacts

Knowledge about affect on Director Doctor/ Street Cleaners Laboratory Total

environment /Head nurse Archins Assistant answer
Don’t know/ does not do 1 4 14 12 4 35 (37.23%)
Does, all kind of waste 14 8 3 1 5 31 (32.98%)
Plastic, saline bag, syringe - - - - -
Hazardous/Infectious disease, 3 1 - 2 4 10 (10.64%)
chemical or pathogen
Hazardous chemical - - - - 1 1 (1.06%)
Detail description, how it affects 3 6 - 2 3 14 (14.89%)
water, soil, and air around
No specific explanation 1 - - 2 - 3 (3.19%)

Annex 10 Knowledge on recycling

Knowledge about recycling Director Doctor/ Street Cleaners Laboratory Total

/Head nurse Archins Assistant answer
Don’t know 5 4 5 12 9 35 (36.08%)
Know little/heard 12 6 1 3 5 27 (27.84%)
Saline bag/different things made of 4 2 2 1 1 10 (10.31%)
plastic e.g. Comb, ball-pen, bag etc.
Sofa made of fruit skin (Coconut)
Selling plastic or glass collected to 1 - - - - 1 (1.03%)
others - 1 9 - - 10 (10.31%)
No recycling/ don’t recycling
4 5 - 3 2 14 (14.43%)

36