Introduction
Waste management is always the primary concern for laboratories, whether it be Medical or Clinical laboratories, Biosafety Laboratories, or Research and Educational laboratories. Most of the waste generated by these laboratories is considered hazardous, few are non-hazardous, and the rest remains miscellaneous. According to World Health Organisation (WHO), laboratories and research centers are significant sources of healthcare waste.
Justus von Liebig allegedly advised a great German chemist, August Kekulé, that if he had to work in a lab, he would have to ruin his health. Although laboratories have recently made strides toward safety, the waste they produce contains the same old chemicals that harm the environment and human health.
According to a study by the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom, the life sciences sector alone produces 5.5 million tonnes of plastic waste per year, or about 2% of the total plastic waste generated worldwide.
What do you mean by Laboratory Waste?
A laboratory is where various types of scientific research takes place. Modern laboratories employ a wide range of tools and techniques to research, organize, or analyze the subjects of their focus. It is prevalent for laboratory procedures to include sample preparation, diagnosis, monitoring, quantification, and byproduct exhibition. Each of these procedures requires a variety of methods to carry out. Laboratory waste is the term used to describe the waste created during these procedures.
Laboratory waste disposal must be taken care of since it could cause significant environmental damage because of its non-biodegradable properties.
Laboratory waste management is a procedure that will only be successful with the support of a collaborative effort from laboratory workers and those responsible for lab waste disposal. You can easily accomplish this by using several means, some of which are thoroughly detailed in the laboratory waste disposal guidelines of the United Kingdom.
Various Types of Laboratory Waste
Medical waste in the United Kingdom falls into two main categories, hazardous and non-hazardous. There are further several types of medical waste that fall under these categories.
Let us learn about the different types of laboratory waste and ways to dispose of them.
1. Sharps Waste
Sharps are objects used to penetrate or cut the body. Sharps can cause serious wounds, perforations, and possible risk to waste handlers when placed in a waste container.
The following are some exemplifications of sharps waste:
- Needles, employed in a variety of operations.
- Lancets
- blades of a scalpel
A red plastic container should be used to dispose of Sharps waste and should be labeled with the biohazard symbol all the time. The container should be the appropriate size for your work environment. Place an autoclave tape on the lid of the container once it is halfway through.
2. Contaminated containers
Each laboratory has containers for contaminated waste that does not belong in the regular trash can. These containers are known as contaminated containers.
The following are some exemplifications of contaminated containers:
- Glass containers
- Plastic containers and,
- containers with residue.
Disposal of these contaminated containers can be expensive because they must be disposed of after minimal filling. Plastic containers are less expensive, but they must undergo autoclaving before disposal, or they can cause considerable environmental damage.
3. Chemical Waste
Chemical waste is any waste product that contains or has come into contact with hazardous chemicals. It might be a solid, liquid, or gaseous substance that is hazardous to human or environmental health. Because chemical waste might be dangerous or non-hazardous, it must be handled, stored, and disposed of responsibly and securely.
The following are some exemplifications of chemical waste:
- Liquid and acrylamide gel waste.
- Spent solvents
- Pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers.
Chemical wastes can be made non-hazardous with the process of incineration. Incineration is the process of destruction of waste by burning.
4. Silica Gel Waste
Silica gel is utilized in sealed environments to give protection against high humidity. This granular, porous silica synthesizes from sodium silicate. Silica gel beads have millions of microscopic holes that absorb and store water vapor while remaining dry to the touch.
The following are the types of silica gel:
- Regular
- Intermediate
- Low-density gels.
Dispose of the Silica gel in regular garbage. If silica gel comes into touch with poisonous or hazardous material, it may adsorb the substance and become dangerous. In this case, dispose of the silica gel in the same manner as the material responsible for contaminating it.
5. Biohazardous Waste
Biohazardous waste is also known as infectious waste. It is waste infected with potentially microbial infections or other elements that pose a risk to public health or the environment.
The following are some exemplifications of Biohazardous waste:
- Human or animal blood
- Microbiological wastes
- Pathological waste
Biohazardous wastes must be kept separate from other forms of waste and should have a leak-proof container. Waste should be collected in a container with adequate structural stability to prevent spilling or release into the environment.
6. Radioactive Waste
Radioactive waste is primarily categorized based on its radioactivity level and decay time. Radioactive waste is any material that is either innately radioactive or polluted by radiation and is no longer helpful.
The following are some exemplifications of Radioactive waste:
- Plastic Bags
- control rods
- Wiping rags
Radioactive waste can be made more accessible to handle, store, and dispose of with conditioning. This process often entails immobilizing waste in containers. The immobilized waste has to be disposed of in a container that is appropriate for its properties.
7. Cytotoxic Waste
Cytotoxic waste is also known as chemotherapeutic waste. It contains genotoxic compounds, such as cytotoxic medications used in cancer treatment.
The following are some exemplifications of Cytotoxic waste :
- Hormonal medication
- Contaminated gloves and wipes
- Bandages and patches
Cytotoxic medications should be sealed in a leak-proof monochlorinated plastic bag and transferred from the laboratory to a location not close to the processing area in a sturdy, leak-proof container composed of a material that can be quickly cleansed and sterilized in the event of a leakage.
Conclusion
Numerous concerns deserve attention in today’s laboratory arena. Laboratory research has had several disastrous repercussions all across the world. The 2019 Coronavirus pandemic is said to be the outcome of a lab experiment. Several lab leaks have wreaked havoc on the environment and public health. It is vital to modify the dynamics of harmful laboratory procedures and implement environmentally friendly alternatives. You may positively contribute to a healthy environment inside and outside of the workplace by implementing an effective laboratory waste management program.
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