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Rational Use of Personal
Protective Equipment: An Environmental Perspective
The onus of
segregation of such waste and the risk of infection from such
waste then comes upon the Safai Sevaks i.e. waste collection
personnel (Fig. 3); and if this is not done; such waste
degrades or breaks down into smaller sized particles (under 5
mm) i.e. microplastics; and then get environmental access; by
inappropriate disposal in landfill, dump sites, fresh water,
oceans or plainly through littering at public spaces; causing
environmental imbalance.
Figure 3. A Safai Sevak in Mumbai after having segregated
biomedical waste - in this picture disposable masks from other
household waste (Picture Courtesy: Sharang Ambadkar)
Responsibility of
citizens related to biomedical waste during the Covid-19
Pandemic - Simple Solutions:
The onus is then
on us citizens to appropriately dispose single use disposable
face masks, N95 respirators and gloves. These can be wrapped
in newspapers or paper bags and marked as biomedical waste
with a red highlighter before disposal; so that the waste
segregation personnel would easily spot such waste and
appropriately segregate them easily. Further, while the
healthcare workers use their PPE judiciously; it may be
important that those of us who are not health care workers;
should not resort to using PPE meant for healthcare workers;
like citizens using disposable N95 respirators or even
non-judiciously insisting on health-care workers using ‘full
PPE” in non-COVID areas of laboratories or hospitals; when
such use is actually not warranted or recommended.
Need for
education, awareness and innovations:
It may thus also
be pertinent now that healthcare workers working in Covid and
non-COVID areas of hospitals; educate and create awareness
amongst their patients and general public at large. One such
small step could be taken if other-wise healthy patients with
non-respiratory symptoms; visiting healthcare facilities
wearing N95 respirators; can be made aware of the presence of
more cost-effective and environment friendly options like
biodegradable engineered filtration layer masks at par with
N95 respirators. Such awareness, will not only ensure the
availability of PPE to our healthcare workers; but also go a
long way in maintaining a vital ecological.
Figure 4. A P-block 2.0 made
using 52% of shredded PPE material, 45% paper sludge, and 3%
binding agent -formulated gum base. (Picture Courtesy: Binesh
Desai)
Conclusion:
In conclusion we
reiterate, citizens using reusable and biodegradable masks
which can be washed and reused shall help to limit wastage.
There is a need for disposing of waste from singleuse Personal
Protective Equipment generated at the household level with
utmost care possibly by wrapping the PPE in a newspaper or a
paper bag and mentioning medical waste with red coloured
highlighter which could help in segregation and also limit the
infection of our Safai Sevaks.
References:
1. Ministry of
Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Directorate
General of Health Services [Emergency Medical Relief]. Novel
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Additional guidelines on
rational use of Personal Protective Equipment
https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/UpdatedAdditionalguidelinesonrationaluseofPersonalProtectiveEquipmentsettin
gapproachforHealthfunctionariesworkinginnonCOVID19areas.pdf
2. R, Muthukumar.
India’s ‘Recycle Man’ Can Convert Used PPE Kits & Face Masks
Into Bricks
https://www.thebetterindia.com/235645/face-mask-recycle-ppemasks-waste-bricks-gujarat-low-cost-innovation-covid-19-ecofriendly-ros174/
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