title: Evaluation of dental waste management in two cities in Palestine.
abstract: Disposal of dental waste was investigated at 37 randomly selected clinics in Ramallah and AI-Bireh cities: 31 private practices and 6 public/NGO clinics. Dentists were interviewed regarding their disposal of different forms of dental waste. Disinfectants and X-ray processing solution were thrown down the drain. For sharps, 13.5% of dentists used puncture-resistant containers (only in the public/ NGO clinics), 45.9% discarded needles directly in the garbage after being recapped and 40.5% placed the used needles and blades in closed plastic bottles before throwing in the general garbage. Blood-soaked dressings and amalgam waste were also thrown in the garbage. While 10.75% of dentists were vaccinated against hepatitis B, 47% of the staff at private clinics were not.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Community and Public Health, Birzeit University, West Bank, Palestine.
authors.forename: R O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Darwish
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Al-Khatib
mesh_terms: D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003797:Dental Staff / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018057:Dental Waste / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003815:Dentists / Q000523:psychology*; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D008877:Middle East; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011331:Private Practice; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D019037:Urban Health Services; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D018057:Dental Waste; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal