title: Applying Nightingale charts to evaluate the heterogeneity of biomedical waste in a Hospital.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to evaluate the heterogeneity of biomedical waste (BW) using Nightingale charts.
  
  
  METHODS
  cross-sectional study consisting of data collection on wastes (direct observation of receptacles, physical characterisation, and gravimetric composition), development of a Management Information System, and creation of statistical charts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  the wastes with the greatest degree of heterogeneity are, in order, recyclable, infectious, and organic wastes; chemical waste had the most efficient segregation; Nightingale charts are useful for quick visualisation and systematisation of information on heterogeneity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  the development of a management information system and the use of Nightingale charts allows for the identification and correction of errors in waste segregation, which increase health risks and contamination by infectious and chemical wastes and reduce the sale and profit from recyclables.
authors.affiliation: aff1.
authors.forename: Janini Cristina
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Paiz
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bigolin
authors.affiliation: Universidade de Caxias do Sul, Caxias do Sul, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vania Elisabete
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.affiliation: Universidade de Caxias do Sul, Caxias do Sul, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Nilva Lúcia Rech
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Stedile
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006761:Hospitals; D007256:Information Systems; D008506:Medical Waste / Q000145:classification* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018505:Waste Management / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D008506:Medical Waste