Search

Background: Effective vaccine management is crucial to maintain vaccine potency. To achieve this, elements, such as temperature management, stock management, infrastructure, cold chain equipment and waste management, need to be properly implemented. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the vaccine storage and stock management practices in public health facilities within Vihiga County. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design was used. Eighty-six public health facilities were selected and one staff involved in handling vaccines from each facility participated in the study. The study utilised survey questionnaires and observational checklists to collect data. Results: All facilities visited use standard vaccine requisition forms for ordering and receiving vaccines and physical stock counts are done in all facilities. The majority of immunising healthcare workers knew how to condition icepacks 88.4%; however, 57.0% did not know all the heat-, cold- and light-sensitive vaccines. Status of vaccine equipment, knowledge of healthcare workers and stock management practices were positively associated with vaccine cold chain management at 52.8%. Conclusion: Knowledge of vaccine handlers and stock management practices should be improved to enhance effective vaccine management. Besides, there is a need for the County Government of Vihiga to purchase sufficient WHO-recommended refrigerators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined owners-based exogenous factors that could hamper adequate management and treatment of Biomedical Waste (BMW) at the Federal and State governments owned tertiary health facilities located in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Failure to address these impediments has been identified as bane of inadequate BMW management, capable of escalating insurgence of epidemics. The study employed survey research design using a well-structured five-item based questionnaire to elicit primary data from 103 purposively selected health officers from the two healthcare facilities. Evidence from relative importance index and One-way Contingency Chi-Square tests unveil that the five factors examined possess latency to impede adequate BMW management, but more for lack of modern medical waste management equipment and less for the health workers salary and allowances while the factors are found to be statistically significant in obstructing proper management of biomedical waste. The study concludes that failure to ensure that these factors are put in place can lead to inappropriate handling of medical waste which in turn can worsen disease outbreak in the environment. Thus, as a proactive measure to curb epidemics, it is recommended that government and hospital management boards should provide adequate fund to support this course in line with global best practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed people's lives, with the most prominent change being the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). In this study, we used the extended Value-Identity-Personal (VIP) norm model to empirically analyze the influencing factors of Pro-Environmental Behavior (PEB) among college students in Xi 'an, China, while considering the usage of PPE as an example of PEB. We proposed nine hypothetical questions, and the VIP model was established through the SmartPLS software to test the valid questionnaires of 414 college students. The verification results indicated that all the nine hypotheses were supported statistically, with personal environmental social responsibility and personal norms showing the most significant direct impact on PEB; notably, personal norms were also strongly influenced by environmental personal social responsibility. Biosphere values affected PEB indirectly, through self-identity and individual norms. This study proposes viable countermeasures and suggestions for college students to improve PEB; our findings can serve as a reference for policymakers and stakeholders to ensure the effective waste management of personal safety equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supplemental digital content is available in the text. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to review the literature regarding the use of an in-home opioid disposal product on unused opioids after surgery. BACKGROUND: The opioid epidemic in the United States is a major cause of concern for healthcare facilities. The misuse and diversion of retained opioids after a surgical procedure continues to contribute to this problem. METHODS: A comprehensive search of the Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, OVID, and PubMed databases with keywords including opioid , analgesics , narcotics , medical waste disposal , medical disposal , refuse disposal , and opioid disposal resulted in 286 articles. Articles were screened based on strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. RESULTS: Eight studies determined that an in-home opioid disposal product provided by a healthcare facility produced rates of opioid disposal between 19% and 71%. CONCLUSIONS: The provision of an in-home opioid disposal product by a healthcare facility is likely to increase the disposal of unused opioid medications in the postoperative surgical patient population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study is to identify the existing problems in the field of electronic waste management and to consider the possibilities and prospects of their legislative regulation. The method of political and legal analysis and the legal forecasting method made it possible to trace the evolution of international legislation in the field of management and disposal of electronic waste, the dynamics of its development, and make a forecast regarding possible vectors of its development. The research aims to answer the question of what are the existing problems in the field of e-waste management within their interdependence with the "circular economy" concept and what are the possibilities and prospects for their legislative regulation. The study analyzes the perspective directions of the formation of international policy and legal regulation in the field of electronic equipment waste management and disposal. The issues of the transfer of electronic waste to developing countries, the difficulties associated with the lack of proper legal regulation and enforcement in these countries, the protection of the labor rights of workers in the field of electronic waste disposal were considered. In addition, the practice of application and prospects for introducing into the legislation the principle of extended producer responsibility are considered. This study is intended to contribute to a better understanding of current trends in the field of electronic waste management in order to demonstrate the need to improve the existing international legal framework, adapt it to modern challenges and show the main directions of its changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many developing countries face various challenges in managing medical waste properly, and most of these challenges lie within the healthcare facilities. This study was conducted to investigate the challenges of effective management of medical waste in Vhembe District from the perspective of healthcare workers. The convergent parallel approach of mixed-method design was adopted. In-depth interviews were conducted with managers, infection prevention and control coordinators and environmental health practitioners of 15 public healthcare facilities in the district to gain insight into the challenges they identify in their respective healthcare facilities. A self-administered questionnaire was employed to obtain data from medical waste generators and handlers. Qualitative data were thematically analysed, and the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 25 was used to analyse the quantitative data. The challenges identified by healthcare workers include poor understanding of medical waste management guidelines and poor compliance; lack of regular training; poor attitudes of medical waste generators; insufficiency of waste management equipment and sub-standard central storage rooms. Most of the challenges were found to be linked to inadequate training of healthcare workers. For effective management of medical waste, efforts should be intensified towards adequate training of healthcare workers and provision of necessary equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cell phone based on communication and digital technology has become inseparable element in life of users and has proved to be a panacea of all information and communication needs over the years. But as a necessary evil it may cause harm to both health and environment. Objectives: It is envisaged to be aware of the potential health hazards, dos and don’ts towards healthy use of cell phone. The aims to create a background to find level of awareness for health aspects related to mobile phones and disposition behaviour for discarded mobile phones based on previous studies. Methods: The study highlights the harmful aspects of mobile on health and environment from the literature review perspective. Results: Review of previous studies show that there is very less awareness for harmful effects of mobile phones on health and environment. Disposition of EoL mobile phones in proper manner is very limited. Conclusion: Studies indicate the risks associated with cell phone due to its electromagnetic fields (EMF) while in use and health hazards at the end-of-life or not in use or discarded mobile phones. Therefore healthy disposal methods of mobile phones in the context of sustainable electrical and electronic equipment waste management have also emerged as a significant issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study highlights the management of electrical equipment and waste electrical equipment with PCB content inventoried in Romania. Because it is mandatory to phase out such equipment with concentrations of at least 50 ppm at a volume of more than 5 dm³ an assessment of the compliance with the requirements imposed by the specific legislation has been made. The results obtained from the statistical processing and interpretation of the data from the national inventory reveal that in Romania, the elimination process is slow and that are still important stocks of equipment with PCB content that must be eliminated. By the end of 2018, the rate of decontamination and disposal of this equipment and the quantities of oils with PCB content was below 25%. Currently, there is no national or county inventory of fluid-containing equipment with 0.005% to 0.05% PCB relative to fluid weight. In Maramure? County, there is no waste electrical equipment in the inventory with PCB content, but only capacitors in use. By the end of 2019, the rate of decontamination and disposal of these equipments at county level was below 15%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction : Living things and human activities produce huge waste every day. Globally medical waste is the second most hazardous waste after radiation waste. In this context, this study was a modest endeavor to examine the current situation of 'Jamalpur 250 Bed General Hospital's' medical waste management practice. Methods : This cross sectional study was conducted among doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians and sanitary staffs at 'Jamalpur 250 Bed General Hospital'. 185 healthcare personnel were purposively interviewed (face to face) to assess previous and existing knowledge and practices of medical waste management. Informed written consent was taken from the study subjects before taking interview. Data was collected by a pretested semi-structured questionnaire. Results : In our current study, out of 185 respondents, 10.0% were doctors and 43.0% were nurses. Five among six color coding segregation system, below 50.0% of the respondent answered correctly. Only 23.8% respondents revealed that the waste handler use PPE properly. 90.8% respondents were mentioned about the lack of storage place for medical waste at hospital premise. 55.7% respondents didn't know about the in house disinfection process, 56.8% respondents didn't know about the municipal vehicle support and 52.4% didn't know about the availability of waste management equipment. Poor knowledge with favorable attitude and risky medical waste management practice of this hospital's healthcare personnel were detected. Conclusion : This study were indicated that the majority of healthcare personnel did not apply the recommended medical waste management practice set by WHO. Moreover, the current medical waste management practice in selected district hospital was not managed properly and could pose a risk for human health and the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A larger cruise ship with more capacity enables the ship-owner to gain more profits while at the same time lowering the cost to the client. Cruise ships today have a capacity of about 5,000 passengers, and there are projects in development of cruise ships that will accommodate up to 10,000 passengers. Since such ships have to function as an independent and ecologically sustainable unit during navigation, there is a problem of waste management. This paper presents the methods and procedures for the disposal of liquid and solid waste on cruise ships in accordance with the applicable regulations. Furthermore, proposals for improving and adapting the MARPOL convention to the above trends are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The government of India aims at "Swachh Bharat Mission" and for that we need smart city with smart streets enabled with smart garbage monitoring system. We see garbage bins around us placed at public places overflowing with due to increase in waste and results into unhygienic conditions for people and leads to deadly diseases. Thus to improve this situation, we proposed this project. In our proposed system, there are multiple smart garbage trash bins on a microcontroller board platform (Arduino Board) located throughout any city or the campus or hospital. The Arduino Board is interfaced with GSM modem and ultrasonic sensor. Once the level of threshold is being crossed, then ultrasonic sensors will trigger the GSM module which in turn continuously alert the authorised person by sending SMS reminder after until the dustbin is cleaned. Beside this, we will also create the central system that will keep showing us the current status of garbage on mobile web browser with html page by wi-fi. With the help of this, we will create shortest path for garbage collection vehicles using Dijkstra Algorithm. This is real time waste management by using smart trash bins that can be accessed anytime anywhere by the concerned person. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is shown analytically that the introduction of the law 'On the Management of Radioactive Waste' and the start of the active phase of the decommissioning of NPP have changed goal-setting in the waste management system and actualized the task of modernizing the system. The necessary conditions for improving the technological platform for managing radioactive waste at NPP (R&D status, experience in using in practice the advances made in science, commercial accessibility of the required materials and technical means) have mostly been formulated. Modernization of the waste management system, as a rule, does not require radical revisions of the design solutions or high material costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Patients prefer at-home drug disposal and conventional takeback programs equally. • Product cost is the most salient determinant of patient preference. • Home-use products distributed by pharmacists are most preferred. • Findings support planned US FDA risk evaluation and mitigation policy. Unused opioid medication in the home increases risk of medication diversion, misuse, and unintended harm. The United States Federal Food and Drug Administration is currently considering the implementation of a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) program that would require US pharmacists to provide drug disposal products with opioid prescriptions. Still, little is known about consumer preference for drug disposal method. The objective of this study was to identify product and program characteristics associated with consumer preference for at-home drug disposal products. A 2x2x3x3 full-factorial design was employed to text-based vignettes representing opioid analgesic disposal scenarios. Each vignette varied on four characteristics: product cost (free vs paid), ease of use (a mail back envelope, bringing medication to a takeback site, and an at-home drug deactivation pouch), potential environmental impact (incineration), and point of access (pharmacy, community organization, and prescriber). Of the 36 possible vignettes, 12 were removed as they represented a non-realistic combination of vignette characteristics. The remaining 24 were administered to a panel of patients with controlled-substance use in the past six-months. Decision tree modeling and general linear mixed (GLM) models were used sequentially to identify product characteristics associated with patient drug preferences A total of 1,006 participants completed all vignette drug disposal scenarios. Regression tree analysis found that the most important predictor of use was cost followed by ease of access and product design. GLM showed that takeback programs offered at a pharmacy were the most preferred disposal option followed by at-home products (mailed envelope or deactivation system) dispensed with the prescription. Programs that provide disposal resources directly to the patient at no cost with their prescription are likely to optimize willingness to dispose. Findings support the FDA's plan for a REMS program requiring pharmacies to distribute mail-back envelopes to patients when dispensed opioids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Inzynieria Mineralna is the property of Polskie Towarzystwo Przerobki Kopalin and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Inzynieria Mineralna is the property of Polskie Towarzystwo Przerobki Kopalin and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article discusses how Mr. Trash Wheel, a solar and hydro powered garbage interceptor invented by John Kellett, is helping to keep the Baltimore Harbor in Maryland clean by efficiently collecting trash and debris.

It is highly probable that most users of temporary storage systems for waste and recyclables will hardly give the container a second glance. The waste industry is after all not the sexiest of sectors and collecting waste is a necessity. Nevertheless, while waste collection has always been a requirement since the earliest days of civilization, today it is undoubtedly a critical activity that is absolutely essential to support our modern lifestyles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanical-physical process was proven to be technologically feasible for waste refrigerator recycling and has been widely used in the typical e-waste recycling factories in China. In this study, effects of the acoustic hood on the reduction of noise level, CFC-11, and heavy metals (Cr, Ni, Cu, Cd, and Pb) in particulate matter (PM) were evaluated. For noise pollution, the noise level inside and outside the acoustic hood was 96.4 and 78.9 dB, respectively. Meanwhile, it had a significant effect on A-weighted sound level with a reduction from 98.3 to 63.6 dB. For CFC-11 exposure, abundant CFC-11 (255 mg/m) was detected in the acoustic hood. However, the mean concentration of CFC-11 at the outline of polyurethane foam collection was obviously diminished to 14 mg/m, and no CFC-11 was monitored around the acoustic hood. The concentrations of PM and heavy metals in PM outside the acoustic hood were lower than those inside the acoustic hood due to the physical barriers of the acoustic hood. Based on the risk assessment, only adverse health effect caused by Pb might likely appear. All the results can provide the basic data for pollution control and risk assessment in waste refrigerator recycling system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper and zinc are elements commonly used in industrial applications as aqueous solutions. Before the solutions can be discharged into civil or native waterways, waste treatment processes must be undertaken to ensure compliance with government guidelines restricting the concentration of ions discharged in solution. While currently there are methods of analysis available to monitor these solutions, each method has disadvantages, be it high costs, inaccuracy, and/or being time-consuming. In this work, a new optical fiber-based platform capable of providing fast and accurate results when performing solution analysis for these metals is described. Fluorescent compounds that exhibit a high sensitivity and selectivity for either zinc or copper have been employed for fabricating the sensors. These sensors demonstrated sub-part-per-million detection limits, 30-second response times, and the ability to analyze samples with an average error of under 10%. The inclusion of a fluorescent compound as a reference material to compensate for fluctuations from pulsed excitation sources has further increased the reliability and accuracy of each sensor. Finally, after developing sensors capable of monitoring zinc and copper individually, these sensors are combined to form a single optical fiber sensor array capable of simultaneously monitoring concentration changes in zinc and copper in aqueous environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Limited information in the literature on the use of GPR to measure in situ water content in a landfill. [•] Developed GPR method allows measurement of in situ water content in a landfill. [•] Developed GPR method is appealing to waste management professionals operating landfills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the solution of intelligent robotic utilization of electrical waste and electronic equipment (WEEE), as means of materials recovery. The paper provides criteria for selection, identification and waste analysis, enabling application of robotic dismantling solutions. Based on proposed criteria, the waste of computer hard disk drives (HDD) was identified, analyzed, and their characteristics described. Furthermore applying described approach to robotized dismantling, the complete process of waste HDD processing, covering all the procedural steps was presented for the selected disk Described intelligent utilization process can be performed with use of 2 robots equipped with, 2 tools and one conveyor handle. Authors also briefly presents issues related to proposed process approached during HDD waste disassembly studies. In addition, paper presents the quantities of materials to be recoveredfrom the HDD waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In Japan, waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) that is not covered by the recycling laws are treated as municipal solid waste. A part of common metals are recovered during the treatment; however, other metals are rarely recovered and their destinations are not clear. This study investigated the distribution ratios and substance flows of 55 metals contained in WEEE during municipal waste treatment using shredding and separation techniques at a Japanese municipal waste treatment plant. The results revealed that more than half of Cu and most of Al contained in WEEE end up in landfills or dissipate under the current municipal waste treatment system. Among the other metals contained in WEEE, at least 70% of the mass was distributed to the small-grain fraction through the shredding and separation and is to be landfilled. Most kinds of metals were concentrated several fold in the small-grain fraction through the process and therefore the small-grain fraction may be a next target for recovery of metals in terms of both metal content and amount. Separate collection and pre-sorting of small digital products can work as effective way for reducing precious metals and less common metals to be landfilled to some extent; however, much of the total masses of those metals would still end up in landfills and it is also important to consider how to recover and utilize metals contained in other WEEE such as audio/video equipment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

During a 15-year joint research program, French Atomic Energy Agency Interactive Robotics Laboratory (CEA LIST) and AREVA have developed several remote operation devices, also called telerobots. Some of them are now commonly used for maintenance operations at the AREVA NC (Nuclear Cycle)-La Hague reprocessing plant. Since the first maintenance operation in 2005, several other successful interventions have been realized using the industrial MA23/RX170 telemanipulation system. Moreover, since 2010, the through-the-wall tele- robot named MT200 TAO based on the slave arm of the MSM MT200 (La CalhèneTM), has been evaluated in an active production cell at the AREVA NC-La Hague fuel recycling plant. Although these evaluations are ongoing, the positive results obtained have led to an update and industrialization program. All these developments are based on the same generic control platform, called TAO2000 V2. TAO2000 V2 is the second release of the CEA LIST core software platform dedicated to computer aided force-feedback teleoperation (TAO is the French acronym for computer aided teleoperation). This paper presents all these developments resulting from the joint research program CEA LIST/AREVA. The TAO2000 V2 controller is first detailed, and then two maintenance operations using the industrial robot RX170 are presented: the removal of the nuclear fuel dissolver wheel rollers and the cleanup of the dissolver wheel interbucket spaces. Finally, the new MT200 TAO system and its evaluations at the AREVA NC-La Hague facilities are discussed. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Solid waste management is considered to be one of the most immediate and serious environmental problems confronting urban governments in developing countries. Qualitative and quantitative variety of waste composition, uncontrolled urban development and the lack of appropriate waste management technology cause particular problems that solving them needs a careful study and the coordination of science and experience in the form of a proper management. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was carried out on solid wastes generated in Kashan over a limited timeframe of 12 months during 2009-10. One sample was randomly taken per month according to the standard instruction and subsequently the physical analysis of it was performed. Results: The average daily waste generation rate in Kashan is 185 tons, of which 75.5% are putrescible materials. The average daily waste generation is tantamount to 638 g/capita while the average density of the waste was 194 kg/m3 at transfer station. The most frequent metal measured in the leachate solid waste was iron. Conclusion: According to the results, high percentages of solid wastes in Kashan were allocated to plastic and corruptible materials, and then the paper and cardboard. Considering that the prevention of adverse environmental effects of solid waste is a priority and applying proper management techniques can help to achieve this, public education for the waste separation at the source, waste reduction and subsequently reduction of the leachate volume as well as the proper manner of recycling, collection and disposal of the waste are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advantages of GIS systems are extended from determining positions into complex route optimisation software. A specialized type of these solutions are applied for elaborating the functions of advanced selective waste collection systems to handle the effects of variable -- in some cases non- deterministic -- boundary conditions. The aim of this paper is to represent the research activities according to the development of methods towards on one hand the above mentioned application and on the other hand to harmonize them for the sake of economic operation of the collection systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracts are presented from applications filed with the European Patent Office including applications for aminofunctional endblocked silicone polyether copolymers in hair conditioning compositions, for an apparatus to measure the concentration of gases in a sterilization chamber and for a plasma method for disposing of waste material.

Extracts are presented from applications filed with the European Patent Office including applications for aminofunctional endblocked silicone polyether copolymers in hair conditioning compositions, for an apparatus to measure the concentration of gases in a sterilization chamber and for a plasma method for disposing of waste material.