Increase in SARS-CoV-2 infected biomedical waste among low middle-income countries: environmental sustainability and impact with health implications
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Date
2021
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J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacology - de gruyter
Abstract
Studies have shown that severe acute respira
tory syndrome corona virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a highly in
fectious disease, withglobaldeathsrisingtoabout360,438
as of 28 May 2020. Different countries have used various
approaches such as lockdown, social distancing, mainte
nanceofpersonalhygiene, andincreasedestablishmentof
testing andisolationcenterstomanagethepandemic.Poor
biomedical waste (BMW) management, treatment, and
disposaltechniques,especiallySARS-CoV-2infectedBMW,
maythreaten the environmental and public health in most
developing countries and, by extension, impact the eco
nomic status of individuals and the nation at large. This
mayincreasethepotentialforthetransmissionofair/blood body fluid-borne pathogens, increase the growth of micro
organisms, risk of mutagenesis, and upsurge of morevirulent
strain. In contrast, uncontrolled substandard burning could
increase the potential spread of nosocomial infection and
environmental exposure to toxic organic compounds, heavy
metals, radioactive, and genotoxic bio-aerosols which might
be present in the gaseous, liquid, and solid by-products. The
paucity of understanding of pathophysiology and manage
ment of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has also necessitated the
need to put in place appropriate disposal techniques to cater
for the sudden increase in the global demand for personal
protective equipment (PPE) and pharmaceutical drugs to
manage the pandemic and to reduce the risk of preventable
infection by the waste. Therefore, there is a need for adequate
sensitization, awareness, and environmental monitoring of
the impacts of improper handling of SARS-CoV-2 infected
BMWs.Hence,this review aimed to address the issues relating
to the improper management of increased SARS-CoV-2
infected BMW in low middle-income countries (LMICs).
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