Environmental challenges from the increasing medical waste since SARS outbreak

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Public Health
• Waste Management

Background:

• Medical waste poses significant environmental risks, particularly during public health emergencies.
• Limited research exists on medical waste generation and its spatial-temporal heterogeneity.
• China's medical system reform, post-SARS (2002), marked a turning point for waste management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate medical waste and pollutant production in China from 2002-2018.
• To forecast medical waste trends in China until 2030.
• To analyze the spatial-temporal characteristics and influencing factors of medical waste generation.

Main Methods:

• Utilized provincial medical statistics data for estimation.
• Employed the STIRPAT model and ARIMA time series model for forecasting.
• Analyzed regional disparities in waste production and per capita generation.

Main Results:

• Medical waste and pollutants surged by ~240% and ~260% respectively due to healthcare system and economic development.
• Large hospitals are identified as primary sources of medical waste.
• Medical waste is projected to increase over 50% by 2030, driven by population growth.
• Eastern China generates more waste due to population and GDP, but per capita waste is linked to household consumption.
• Mercury (Hg) loads from medical waste exceed those from wastewater in some regions.

Conclusions:

• Healthcare system development and economic growth significantly drive medical waste production.
• Population growth will continue to increase medical waste, necessitating proactive management.
• Policy recommendations include expanding disposal facilities, promoting mobile treatment, increasing medical beds, and further research on environmental impacts.