{"id":105277,"date":"2025-07-14T12:16:09","date_gmt":"2025-07-14T04:16:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hiclover.com\/one\/environmental-impact-of-medical-waste-incineration-at-hawler-psychiatric-teaching-hospital-iraq-a-case-study\/"},"modified":"2025-07-14T12:16:09","modified_gmt":"2025-07-14T04:16:09","slug":"environmental-impact-of-medical-waste-incineration-at-hawler-psychiatric-teaching-hospital-iraq-a-case-study","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hiclover.com\/one\/environmental-impact-of-medical-waste-incineration-at-hawler-psychiatric-teaching-hospital-iraq-a-case-study\/","title":{"rendered":"Environmental Impact of Medical Waste Incineration at Hawler Psychiatric Teaching Hospital, Iraq: A Case Study"},"content":{"rendered":"

Environmental<\/a> Impact of Medical<\/a> Waste<\/a> Incineration<\/a> at Hawler Psychiatric Teaching Hospital<\/a>, Iraq<\/a>: A Case Study<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The increasing amount of medical<\/a> waste<\/a> generated by healthcare facilities has become a significant concern worldwide, including in Iraq<\/a>. Medical<\/a> waste<\/a> incineration<\/a> is a common method used to manage medical<\/a> waste<\/a>, but it can have severe environmental<\/a> and health<\/a> impacts if not properly controlled. This article aims to investigate the environmental<\/a> impact of medical<\/a> waste<\/a> incineration<\/a> at Hawler Psychiatric Teaching Hospital<\/a> in Iraq<\/a>, a case study, and provide recommendations to mitigate its adverse effects.<\/p>\n

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Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Medical<\/a> waste<\/a> incineration<\/a> is the process of burning<\/a> medical<\/a> waste<\/a> at high temperatures to reduce its volume and pathogen load. However, this process can release toxic pollutants, such as dioxins, furans, and heavy metals, into the air, water, and soil, posing a significant risk to human health<\/a> and the environment. The World Health<\/a> Organization (WHO<\/a>) estimates that about 20% of medical<\/a> waste<\/a> is hazardous and can cause harm to humans and the environment if not managed properly.<\/p>\n

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Hawler Psychiatric Teaching Hospital<\/a>, located in Erbil, Iraq<\/a>, is one of the largest psychiatric hospitals in the country, generating a significant amount of medical<\/a> waste<\/a> daily. The hospital<\/a> uses incineration<\/a> as its primary method of medical<\/a> waste<\/a> management. This case study aims to evaluate the environmental<\/a> impact of medical<\/a> waste<\/a> incineration<\/a> at Hawler Psychiatric Teaching Hospital<\/a> and identify areas for improvement.<\/p>\n

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Methodology<\/strong><\/p>\n

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This study used a mixed-methods approach, combining both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis methods. The study consisted of:<\/p>\n

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  1. Site visit and observation<\/strong>: The research team visited Hawler Psychiatric Teaching Hospital<\/a> to observe the medical<\/a> waste<\/a> management practices, including incineration<\/a>.<\/li>\n

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  2. Questionnaires and interviews<\/strong>: The team distributed questionnaires to hospital<\/a> staff, including doctors, nurses, and waste<\/a> management personnel, to gather information about their knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding medical<\/a> waste<\/a> management. Interviews were also conducted with key hospital<\/a> administrators and waste<\/a> management officials.<\/li>\n

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  3. Air and water sampling<\/strong>: Air and water samples were collected from the hospital<\/a> and surrounding areas to measure the levels of pollutants, such as particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and heavy metals.<\/li>\n

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  4. Review of hospital<\/a> records<\/strong>: The team reviewed hospital<\/a> records, including waste<\/a> generation rates, incineration<\/a> temperatures, and emission control measures.<\/li>\n

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    Results<\/strong><\/p>\n

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    The study found that Hawler Psychiatric Teaching Hospital<\/a> generates approximately 500 kg of medical<\/a> waste<\/a> daily, with 70% of it being non-hazardous and 30% hazardous. The hospital<\/a> uses a single-chamber<\/a> incinerator<\/a>, which operates at temperatures between 800\u00b0C and 1000\u00b0C. The incinerator<\/a> is equipped with a basic air pollution<\/a> control system, but it does not have a scrubber<\/a> or electrostatic precipitator to remove particulate matter and heavy metals.<\/p>\n

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    The air and water sampling results showed high levels of pollutants, including:<\/p>\n

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