Characterization of infectious wastes from hospitals and healthcare centers in Rasht city and determining the concentration of heavy metals in their leachate
Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
10.22059/jne.2025.383376.2715
Abstract
Hospital infectious waste contains hazardous and toxic substances, necessitating careful management to prevent significant public health and environmental risks. This study investigates the physical composition of infectious waste and the concentrations of heavy metals in the leachate from hospitals and health care centers in Rasht. A descriptive cross-sectional analysis was conducted over two weeks during the fall and winter seasons, examining infectious waste from seven public hospitals and three health care centers both quantitatively and qualitatively. Heavy metal concentrations were measured using the ICP-OES device. The findings revealed that the average daily waste production ranged from 20.2 to 106.5 kg, with a density between 28.5 and 139.1 kg/m3. Plastic waste, averaging 4.1-53.9 kg per day, was the most prevalent, while glass (ampoules), ranging from 0.5 to 4.4 kg per day, was the least common. Zinc had the highest concentration among heavy metals (129-904 µg/L), while cadmium had the lowest (1-5 µg/L). Mercury levels in the leachate exceeded the irrigation standards established by the USEPA. These results underscore the necessity of implementing effective waste management strategies, including comprehensive staff training on proper waste segregation and the adoption of measures to reduce mercury concentrations.
Keywords
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