Health Impacts and Risks Associated with Biomedical Waste Management

Biomedical waste (BMW) poses a health and environmental problem. Therefore, a study was conducted to develop a biomedical waste management system whose implementation will improve public health while addressing environmental, technical, and sociocultural concerns. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted from January 16 to 31, 2016. Biomedical waste, like household and other types of waste, is being produced at an ever-increasing rate in all countries, and its hazards increase proportionally with the quantity produced. Proper management of this type of waste, with a view to disposal that minimizes risks to health and the environment, entails high costs, which exacerbates problems in developing countries. However, a lack of resources should not serve as an excuse for inaction, and the health situation regarding biomedical waste could improve with greater awareness among local stakeholders and better management practices.