Title:The Challenges of Biomedical Waste Management During the Ongoing
Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) Pandemic: The Current Scenario
Volume: 14
Issue: 2
Author(s): Sabitha Vadakedath, Venkataramana Kandi*, Tarun Kumar Suvvari, Lakshmi Venkata Simhachalam Kutikuppala, Vikram Godishala and Praveen R. Shahapur
Affiliation:
- Department of Microbiology,
Prathima Institute of Medical Sciences, Karimnagar, India
Keywords:
Novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, environment, biomedical waste (BMW), hazardous, pollution.
Abstract: The novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that has emerged and spread throughout the world
causing CoV disease-19 (COVID-19) has since its discovery affected not only humans and animals but
also the environment. Because of the highly infectious nature of the virus, and the respiratory aerosol
transmission route, face masks and personal protective equipment have become mandatory for public
and healthcare workers, respectively. Also, the complex nature of the pathogenicity of the virus, wherein,
it has been associated with mild, moderate, and severe life-threatening infections, has warranted increased
laboratory testing and placing the infected people in isolation and under constant observation in
quarantine centers or at dedicated hospitals. Some infected people, who are generally healthy, and do
not show symptoms have been placed in home quarantines. At this juncture, there has been increased
amount of Biomedical Waste (BMW), and infectious general waste along with plastic disposable recyclable
and non-recyclable waste. The increased BMW along with the potentially hazardous plastic
waste collection, segregation, transport, and disposal has assumed increased significance during the
ongoing pandemic. Therefore, this review attempts to investigate the current scenario of BMW management
and strategies to minimize BMW and prevent potential environmental pollution.
