Insufficient implementation of wastewater disposal and municipal waste recycling in healthcare facilities in Serbia

Abstract

Besides acquiring health services, healthcare facilities present a substantial environmental health risk through diagnostics, therapeutic and laboratory practice. Wastewaters from these procedures are a heterogeneous mixture including toxic chemicals, microorganisms, radioisotopes and hormones. Our aim was to point at the existing flaws in managing liquid waste within the all-level healthcare system in Serbia. Cross-section study was implemented in a sample of 45 facilities. Questionnaire was used as a survey tool focusing on wastewater treatment and laboratory analysis. Pretreatment is implemented in only three facilities, while in 9 out of 45(20%) facilities regular laboratory tests of the efluent are practiced. Within the sample of 212 facilities questioned for municipal waste recycling practice, 50% recycles all streams available for recycling, while 50% does not include this process into its regular daily agenda.

Keywords

• wastewaters
• municipal waste
• healthcare facilities
• risk