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A Review of the Impact That Healthcare Risk Waste Treatment Technologies Have on the Environment

Author

Listed:
  • Thobile Zikhathile

    (Faculty of Natural Sciences, Mangosuthu University of Technology, 511 Griffiths Mxenge Highway, Umlazi, Durban 4031, South Africa)

  • Harrison Atagana

    (Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability, University of South Africa, Pretoria 0003, South Africa)

  • Joseph Bwapwa

    (Faculty of Engineering, Mangosuthu University of Technology, 511 Griffiths Mxenge Highway, Umlazi, Durban 4031, South Africa)

  • David Sawtell

    (Department of Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, John Dalton Building, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5GD, UK)

Abstract

Health-Care Risk Waste (HCRW) treatment protects the environment and lives. HCRW is waste from patient diagnostics, immunization, surgery, and therapy. HCRW must be treated before disposal since it pollutes, spreads illnesses, and causes harm. However, waste treatment increases the healthcare sector’s carbon footprint, making the healthcare sector a major contributor to anthropogenic climate change. This is because treating HCRW pollutes the environment and requires a lot of energy. Treating HCRW is crucial, but its risks are not well-studied. Unintentionally, treating HCRW leads to climate change. Due to frequent climate-related disasters, present climate-change mitigation strategies are insufficient. All sectors, including healthcare, must act to mitigate and prevent future harms. Healthcare can reduce its carbon footprint to help the environment. All contributing elements must be investigated because healthcare facilities contribute to climate change. We start by evaluating the environmental impact of different HCRW treatment technologies and suggesting strategies to make treatments more sustainable, cost-effective, and reliable to lower the carbon footprint.

Suggested Citation

  • Thobile Zikhathile & Harrison Atagana & Joseph Bwapwa & David Sawtell, 2022. "A Review of the Impact That Healthcare Risk Waste Treatment Technologies Have on the Environment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-18, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:19:p:11967-:d:921648
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Thobile Zikhathile & Harrison Atagana, 2018. "Challenges Facing Home-Based Caregivers in the Management of Health Care Risk Waste," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-20, November.
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    3. Minas Minoglou & Spyridoula Gerassimidou & Dimitrios Komilis, 2017. "Healthcare Waste Generation Worldwide and Its Dependence on Socio-Economic and Environmental Factors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-13, February.
    4. Georgios Giakoumakis & Dorothea Politi & Dimitrios Sidiras, 2021. "Medical Waste Treatment Technologies for Energy, Fuels, and Materials Production: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-30, December.
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