%0 Journal Article
%T Biomedical Pollutants in the Urban Environment and Implications for Public Health: A Case Study
%A Jeffrey N. T. Squire
%J ISRN Public Health
%D 2013
%R 10.1155/2013/497490
%X This study investigated the management of biomedical pollutants in the Accra Metropolitan Area in Ghana, using a qualitative case study approach involving interviews, focus-group discussions, and observation techniques. A state of precariousness was found to characterize the management of biomedical pollutants in the study area, culminating in the magnification of risks to the environment and public health. There is neither a single sanitary landfill nor a properly functioning incineration system in the entire metropolis, and most of the healthcare facilities surveyed lack access to suitable treatment technologies. As a result, crude burning and indiscriminate dumping of infectious and toxic biomedical residues were found to be widespread. The crude burning of toxic biomedical pollutants was found to provide environmental pathways for carcinogenic substances. These include polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), polychlorinated dibenzo-para-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), hydrogen, lead, mercury, cadmium, chlorobenzenes, particulate matter, and chlorophenols. The improper disposal of biomedical pollutants in open dumps and unsanitary landfills also carries a risk of providing environmental entry points for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), inorganic macrocomponents, heavy metals, and xenobiotic organic compounds. 1. Introduction Biomedical pollutants generated during the course of healthcare delivery are known to carry greater risks to the environment and human health due to its infectious, hazardous, and toxic composition [1¨C3]. Some classes of biomedical pollutants can interfere with the metabolic processes of organisms, cause neurotoxic, nephrotoxic, and neurological effects on the human body, and stop or kill the growth of living cells [3]. Certain classes of biomedical pollutants are also known to be bioactive in aquatic ecosystems even at low concentrations and can have negative impacts on aquatic life in terms of reproduction and development [4¨C6]. In spite of the risks, the management of healthcare biomedical pollutants is not prioritized in many parts of the world especially in developing countries. In many developing countries, there are no effective policies in place regulating the management of biomedical pollutants, resulting in unsafe handling and disposal practices. In cases where there are policies in place, compliance and enforcement procedures are highly negligible [7¨C9]. Resultantly, the management of biomedical pollutants in many developing countries is characterized by
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn.public.health/2013/497490/