Examination on Environmental Impacts of Irregular Storage of Medical Wastes: Case of Turkey
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Abstract
Irregular (wild) storage of urban waste brings with it many environmental problems. These problems are garbage fires, explosions, mixing of leachate into groundwater and surface water, smell, visual pollution, harmful gas emissions and greenhouse effect. Especially, irregular storage of medical wastes causes these problems to reach more dangerous dimensions. For this reason, it is vital to analyse the medical waste storage process from all aspects and keep it under control. In this context, the main purpose of this study is to emphasize the importance of regular disposal of medical wastes by sterilization method. In this context, medical waste storage methods will be classified in two groups. The first group will be accepted as “medical wastes sent directly to the landfill without any treatment”, and the second group as “medical wastes sent to the landfill after sterilization”. The environmental impacts of both groups will be examined on an urban scale with data from the last ten years specific to Van Province of Turkey. In this analysis, the compliance of waste storage areas with the relevant legislation and international standards will also be questioned. Finally, the results will be discussed in terms of environmental impacts and human health.
