Biohazardous waste.

Presented by,
URMILA N PAI
SCET
8TH SEM

 According to Biomedical Waste (Management and Handling)

Rules, 1998 of India Any waste which is generated during the
diagnosis, treatment or immunization of human beings or
animals or in research activities pertaining thereto or in the
production or testing of biological.
Biomedical waste management has recently emerged as an issue
of major concern not only to hospitals, nursing home authorities
but also to the environment.
The bio-medical wastes generated from health care units depend
upon a number of factors such as waste management methods,
type of health care units, occupancy of healthcare units,
specialization of healthcare units, ratio of reusable items in use,
availability of infrastructure and resources etc.

SOURCES OF BIOMEDICAL
WASTE
Major Sources: Hospitals, health
centers, Medical colleges and
research centers, paramedic
services.

Minor Sources: Physicians,

dentists clinics, Animal houses,
Blood donation camps, Vaccination
centers.

PROBLEMS RELATING TO BIOMEDICAL

WASTE
Disposing of waste in a haphazard, improper and
indiscriminate manner.
Lack of segregation practices.
Inappropriate segregation.
Inadequate management.

Points
Disposal
Shipping Transportation
Treatment

Biohazardous waste includes any waste item that is

contaminated with a biological material that is an infectious
disease transmission risk or an environmental release risk .

Biohazardous waste, also called infectious waste or

biomedical waste, is any waste containing infectious materials
or potentially infectious substances such as blood.
Of special concern are sharp wastes such as needles, blades,
glass pipettes, and other wastes that can cause injury during
handling.

Types of Biohazardous Waste

1.Human blood and blood products

2.Human Body Fluids
3.Microbiological Wastes
4.Pathological waste
5.Animal waste
6.Sharps waste

1.Human blood and blood products:

All human blood, blood products (such as serum, plasma, and

other blood components) in liquid or semi-liquid form.

Items contaminated with blood that, if compressed, would

release blood in a liquid or semi-liquid form, or items caked
with dried blood capable of being released during handling.
Other body fluids or tissues containing visible blood.

 2.Human Body Fluids:

Human body fluids in a liquid or semi-liquid state, including:
semen,
cerebral spinal fluid,
synovial fluid,
pleural fluid,
pericardial fluid,
peritoneal fluid,
amniotic fluid,
saliva from dental procedures.
includes any other human body fluids visibly contaminated with
blood, and all body fluids in situations where it is difficult or
impossible to differentiate between body fluids .

3.Microbiological Wastes:
Laboratory wastes containing or contaminated with
concentrated forms of infectious agents.
Such waste includes
discarded specimen cultures,
stocks of etiologic agents,
discarded live and attenuated viruses,
blood or body fluids known to contain infectious pathogens,
wastes from the production of biologicals and serums,
disposable culture dishes,
and devices used to transfer,
inoculate and mix cultures.

4.Pathological waste:
All human tissues, organs, and body parts, including waste
biopsy materials, tissues, and anatomical parts from surgery,
procedures, or autopsy. Any unfixed human tissue, except
skin.

5.Animal waste:
All animal carcasses, body parts, and any bedding material
from animals known to be infected with, or that have been
inoculated with human pathogenic microorganisms infectious
to humans.

6.Sharps waste:
Sharps waste is a form of biomedical waste composed of
used sharps, which includes any device or object used to
puncture or lacerate the skin. Sharps waste is classified
as biohazardous waste and must be carefully handled.
Common medical materials treated as sharps waste are:
Syringes and injection devices
Blades
Contaminated glass and some plastics.

BIOMEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT

PROCESS
Waste collection
Segregation
Transportation and storage
Treatment & Disposal
Transport to final disposal site
Final disposal

BIOMEDICAL WASTE TREATMENT AND

DISPOSAL
1.Incineration Technology
2.Non-Incineration Technology
3. Autoclaving
4. Chemical Methods
5. Microwave Irradiation
6. Plasma Pyrolysis

Treatment and disposal

The purpose of solid biohazardous waste treatment is biological

inactivation in a manner that reduces hazardous exposure risk for lab
personnel and the environment.
This is generally achieved by autoclave treatment of waste or
treatment and disposal through a medical waste disposal contractor
(i.e., licensed medical waste hauler) who will autoclave or incinerate
the waste.
Under the regulations, wastes are to be rendered non-infectious by
sterilization techniques prior to disposal.
This means that all items contaminated with a potentially infectious
material must be autoclaved or managed through a medical waste
disposal contractor for disposal .

Transporting Biohazardous Waste

Biohazardous waste must be packaged so that personal

protective equipment (PPE) is not needed during transport.
Transporting Within a Building
Sharps containers with contaminated sharps to be transported
within the same building must be securely closed and the outer
surface decontaminated prior to transport.

 Attach a piece of autoclave tape over the lid and sides being
careful not to cover air vents. This will help secure the lid if
the plastic expands and contracts during steam sterilization.
Label the container with name of Principal Investigator (PI)
and room number.
If leaking is possible, place inside a secondary container which
is closable, puncture resistant, constructed to contain all
contents and prevent leakage, and is either red in color or is
labeled with the biohazard symbol


Bagged Biohazardous waste transported within the same
building must be closed, surface decontaminated, and placed
inside secondary containment prior to transport.
Transporting Between Buildings
Sharps Containers with contaminated sharps to be transported
between buildings is the same as within the same building .
The exception is if transport is by motor vehicle.

 On-Site Steam Sterilized Waste Disposal

Bagged Waste
Autoclave tape should be used on biohazard bags to show that
the waste has been treated. Bagged waste can be placed in the
regular waste container for the laboratory.
Laboratory Glass and Plastic Waste
Bagged waste that contains glassware or hard plastic pipettes
should be packaged in a cardboard box and labeled with
"LABORATORY GLASSWARE" tape. Bagged
waste and boxes of laboratory glassware can be
placed in the regular waste container
for the laboratory.

Shipping Off-Site for Treatment and Disposal

Preparing biohazardous waste for collection and shipment by

a biohazardous waste contractor must be done in accordance
with the Department of Transportation (DOT) requirements.
All faculty and staff who will perform the final packaging
steps and offer shipments to the contractor must complete the
EH&S training before setting up an account with the waste
contractor.