A review of the impact that healthcare risk waste treatment technologies have on the environment

Zikhathile, Thobile, Atagana, Harrison, Bwapwa, Joseph ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6498-426X and Sawtell, David ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3992-6850 (2022) A review of the impact that healthcare risk waste treatment technologies have on the environment. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19 (19). 11967. ISSN 1661-7827

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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.