Assessment of air pollutants in the occupational environment of plasma biomedical waste disposal system in Ahmedabad, India

• Published in: Journal of Environment and Safety Vol. 10; no. 2; p. 89
• Main Authors: Raghavan Sampathraju, Mansuri, Mahamad Asif
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Tokyo Japan Science and Technology Agency 10.09.2019
• Subjects: Air pollution; Air quality; Air quality standards; Airway management; Cardiovascular diseases; Chloracne; Coronary artery disease; Developing countries; Dioxins; Disease control; Exposure limits; Furans; Heart diseases; Heavy metals; Hydrogen sulfide; Hyperlipidemia; Incineration; Incinerators; Industrial plants; Ischemia; LDCs; Medical wastes; Nitrogen dioxide; Organic wastes; Particulate emissions; Particulate matter; Pesticides; Pollutants; Pollution control; Pollution effects; Pyrolysis; Respiratory tract; Sulfur dioxide; Waste disposal; Waste management; Waste management industry; Workers; India
• ISSN: 1884-4375; 2186-3725
• DOI: 10.11162/daikankyo.E19SC0601

The composition and nature of pollutants emitted from biomedical waste incinerators depends on waste being burnt, efficiency of waste incinerators and pollution control measures in place. The effects among workers include ischemic heart disease, excess hyperlipidemia, increased small airway obstruction and chloracne. Plasma pyrolysis is an environment friendly technology that convert organic waste into CO, H2 and hydrocarbons etc. The studies on air pollutants in the occupational environment of biomedical waste disposal systems are very scarce, especially in developing countries. Hence, a study was conducted to evaluate air pollutants PM10, CO, SO2, NO2,H2S, Cl2 and total VOCs at plasma pyrolysis system located in Ahmedabad city of India in the year 2011. The concentration of particulate matter (SPM and RPM or PM10), CO, SO2, H2S, NO2, Cl2 and total VOCs were well within national ambient air quality standards (CPCB, 2009) and within permissible exposure limit (PEL) of Indian Factories Act, 1948. The management was suggested to follow CPCB Bio-Medical Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 201816), CPCB Amendment Rules9) and best practices for incineration suggested by WHO21). Further studies targeting exposure assessment of heavy metals and other organic pollutants (PCBs, dioxins and furans) are needed.