| An illicit economy: Scavenging and recycling of medical waste. | |
| | |
MedLine Citation:
|
PMID: 21820235 Owner: NLM Status: Publisher |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
|
This paper discusses a significant illicit economy, including black and grey aspects, associated with medical waste scavenging and recycling in a megacity, considering hazards to the specific group involved in scavenging as well as hazards to the general population of city dwellers. Data were collected in Dhaka, Bangladesh, using a variety of techniques based on formal representative sampling for fixed populations (such as recycling operatives) and adaptive sampling for roaming populations (such as scavengers). Extremely hazardous items (including date expired medicines, used syringes, knives, blades and saline bags) were scavenged, repackaged and resold to the community. Some HCE employees were also observed to sell hazardous items directly to scavengers, and both employees and scavengers were observed to supply contaminated items to an informal plastics recycling industry. This trade was made possible by the absence of segregation, secure storage and proper disposal of medical waste. Corruption, a lack of accountability and individual responsibility were also found to be contributors. In most cases the individuals involved with these activities did not understand the risks. Although motivation was often for personal gain or in support of substance abuse, participants sometimes felt that they were providing a useful service to the community. |
| | |
Authors:
|
Masum A Patwary; William Thomas O'Hare; M H Sarker |
Related Documents
:
|
1601645 - Pectoralis major myocutaneous flap: analysis of complications in a va population. 10131695 - Beyond just-in-time: the ucla medical center experience. 6728295 - The volume of the toad medial amygdala-anterior preoptic complex is sexually dimorphic ... 9357735 - Web client and odbc access to legacy database information: a low cost approach. 10256695 - Quality circles and medical staffs. 12737155 - Accreditation: standards for quality continuing professional development. |
Publication Detail:
|
Type: JOURNAL ARTICLE Date: 2011-8-3 |
Journal Detail:
|
Title: Journal of environmental management Volume: - ISSN: 1095-8630 ISO Abbreviation: - Publication Date: 2011 Aug |
Date Detail:
|
Created Date: 2011-8-8 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
|
Nlm Unique ID: 0401664 Medline TA: J Environ Manage Country: - |
Other Details:
|
Languages: ENG Pagination: - Citation Subset: - |
Copyright Information:
|
Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
Affiliation:
|
School of Science and Engineering, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, TS1 3BA, UK. |
Export Citation:
|
APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
|
|
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
Previous Document: Logistic regression models.
Next Document: Comparing the utility of image algebra operations for characterizing landscape changes: The case of ...