Open Dumpsites’s Adverse Effects to Human and Environment
Medical waste is one of the most harmful wastes being disposed and treated on landfills (Diaz and Savage, 2003). It is broadly defined as liquid or solid wastes generated from the diagnosis, treatment, and immunization of human beings and animals (Akter, 1999). Wastes from this category can have adverse effects on human health and a negative impact on natural environment and ecosystems (Akter, 2000). Hence, a proper medical waste management system should be provided immediately in both developing and developed countries to decrease the occurrence of waste related disease and adverse effects on ecosystems and the environment.
Many developing countries overlooked the importance of safe medical waste handling. According to Alter’s study, most governments have no clear guidance systems to ensure the proper disposal and segregation of medical wastes. As most wastes are collected and dumped in a common place, where it was located on roadsides, dust bins, and even resold and poured down main sewer drains (Akter, 1999). In addition, some wastes are also disposed in open fields, rivers, lakes, and ditches. This will result in potential risks of an adverse change in the natural environment. One important fact is that the majority of the people surveyed does not know what are considered as medical wastes and moreover, most of them does not have any existing idea of the damage they can cause. Due to the constant careless mishandling and disposal of these wastes, contaminants often come in contact with wild animals and the natural environment. These contaminants change the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the environment, in which could change the Earth’s temperature, toxicity in soil, and even other characteristics such as the discharge of radioactive substances (Akter, 1999). Disposed liquid medical wastes could also seep into groundwater, surface water, and also adversely affect the air quality with odors and toxins. And because of the close contact between these wastes and humans, medical wastes can also have an adverse effect on the health of humans and the wildlife.
A review done in 1999 estimated that 4 out of the 5.2 million people that died each year in Bangladesh from waste-related diseases were children (Akter, 1999). Clinical and non-clinical wastes were found in dumpsites, which poses an extremely harmful threat to ecosystems and as well as human communities. Pathogens and hazardous materials are capable of causing diseases to human and animals both directly or indirectly by contaminating soil, air, surface water, and groundwater. Wastes contain certain toxic substances that would lead to an infection when they have contact with human or living animals, and also cause air pollutant and water pollution, in which we consume on a regular basis (Akter, 1999). According to the science research study by Glenn Sia Su, she claims that the families who lived around open dumpsites in Payatas, Philippines were affected by waterborne illness due to the improper way of landfill procedures that led to water pollution. Toxic substances that caused waterborne illness from the open dumpsites seeped into the grounds and through the drinking wells in Payatas. The impact of open dumpsites was mostly influencing the uneducated people because of their unhygienic living styles which led to their higher risk of getting waterborne diseases, particularly diarrhea (Su, 2005).
Raman and Sathiya Narayanan from VHNSN College also examined the soil and water quality near open dumpsites in Chennai, India. The pH, temperature, electric conductivity, amount of heavy metal and other physical or chemical properties were tested from the samples. It was found that the groundwater quality was highly contaminated and it was unacceptable by the Indian Drinking Water Quality standard (Raman and Sathiya Narayanan, 2008). As recent as many of these kinds of research were conducted in the 2000s, developing countries are still using open dumpsites as their medical waste disposal method. The results all supported that dumpsites can have very negative impacts on their nearby families and can cause toxic contamination that leads to diseases.
Figure 1. Left is the Pallavarm landfill site. The right is Joy Nagar nearer to Pallvaram landfill site. Figure taken from Raman and Sathiya Narayanan, 2008.
In conclusion, these studies of various countries provide us important information to convince us to adopt a safer and cleaner way to dispose medical wastes. One important fact is the lack of awareness of individuals about medical wastes. Individuals surveyed were asked questions to distinguish common wastes and medical wastes, in which many failed to accomplish. They were also clueless about their environmental and health impacts. Wastes can be disposed carelessly on road sides, dust bins, open fields and even enter our air and water systems. As a result, this can cause an extremely harmful effect to our health by exposing us to illnesses and injuries, such as HIV, cancer, infections, and other related diseases. In addition, medical waste could also have an adverse effect on the environment. The waste that is leaked into the water or released into the air can potentially cause changes that have a negative impact on the chemical, physical, and/or biological properties of the environment. Which in turn, can cause more health issues and problems for humans living close to these landfill locations. Therefore, it is important for countries and its governments to implement a clear guide on how to properly distinguish and safely dispose of medical wastes.
Work Cited
Ramen, N., and Sathiya Narayanan, D. (2008). Impact of Solid Waste Effect On Ground Water and Soil Quality Nearer to Pallavaram Solid Waste Landfill Site in Chennai. Rasayan J. Chem. Vol. 1, No 4.
