Impact of repackaging hazardous (infectious) hospital waste on the indoor air quality of a hospital.
With landfill bans on the disposal of hazardous (infectious) hospital wastes, many hospitals in the United States are faced with selecting alternative means of disposal. One alternative method of disposal is to repackage the waste and ship it off site for incineration. This paper reports on a study in which airborne bacteria were sampled in an area where waste was repackaged. Results of the sampling showed bacteria concentrations ranging from not detectable (central supply room) to 105 colonies/m3 air (approximately 40 feet from the incinerator room door). This would seem to indicate that the source of the bacteria was at or near the incinerator room door where the repackaging operation took place. Although some human pathogens were identified, most of the bacteria identified do not represent a serious health threat. However, Staphylococcus aureus was found in air samples collected from locations in the hospital served by the same ventilation system in the area of the repackaging operation. The waste handling practices used in hospitals need to be reevaluated, and the definition of 'sick building syndrome' needs to be expanded beyond chemicals to include microorganisms. More research is needed to characterize bacteria in air and to determine the impact of airborne bacteria on human health.
Brenniman
G R
GR
Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Illinois, Chicago.
Allen
R J
RJ
D000391:Air Microbiology; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor; D001407:Bacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006761:Hospitals; D008506:Medical Waste; D012037:Refuse Disposal; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D008506:Medical Waste