The impact of medical waste on the environment and methods of disposal

Abstract

Every person has the right to obtain necessary health care. Health services have developed greatly over time and today reach very high levels; however, despite the benefits they provide, they generate medical waste, which is unlike ordinary waste because it contains toxic chemical and metallic substances as well as sharp instruments that are dangerous to the environment and living organisms. This paper reviews the definition and classification of medical waste, its impacts on human health and the environment, and the main methods used for its sorting, treatment, and disposal in hospitals.