HOSPITAL WASTE MANAGEMENT &

MERCURY ELIMINATIONPresented by Laurie TenaceFlorida Department of Environmental

Protection(850) 488-0300at the Florida Pollution Prevention &

Environmental Essentials ConferenceJuly 31-August 2, 2002

HOSPITALS FOR A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT

Working Together to Create Healthy Communities

A partnership between: American Hospital AssociationU.S. Environmental Protection Agency American Nurses AssociationHealth Care Without Harm

Hospital waste management:

always swamped

WHY SHOULD HOSPITALS CARE?

Expands and supports mission to improve community health

Promotes community trust and confidence

Preserves environmental resourcesPrevents pollution$aves money

WHY ELSE?

Hospitals generate 2 millions tons of solid waste annually

Medical incinerators are the 4th largest known source of mercury emissions

Many PBT’s found in hospitals are suspected to cause health problems

Hospitals need to consider actions based on “first, do no harm”

H2E ProgramH2E goals for hospitals include:

Virtually eliminate mercury waste by year 2005

Reduce total waste volume by 33% by year 2005, by 50% by 2010

Identify and reduce PBT chemicals and other hazardous substances in hospitals through pollution prevention and waste reduction

The key to success is your involvement!

WHAT CAN MY HOSPITAL GAIN?

Decreased Costs from:

Increased worker health & safety

Better waste segregation

Environmentally preferable purchasing

REAL NUMBERS

Average 9kg waste per patient day!

Jacobi Medical Center cut annual waste management costs by 30%

Working with WasteWorks, St. Barnabas Hospital reduced waste volume by 65% and costs by 50%

P2 efforts by Staten Island University Hospital reduced waste management costs by $500,000 per year

The 10 Step Program

Form a team

Assess your facility

Establish baseline data

Set waste & mercury reduction goals

Develop an action plan

The last five steps

Kick off the program

Educate employees

Do the work

Track, measure, record progress

Celebrate your achievements

WHY MERCURY?

What’s the big deal? I used to play with mercury when I was a kid, and I’m OK now…

Mad as a Hatter?

Mercury is well know for its toxic effects

Methyl mercury is the most toxic form

Long term exposure can permanently damage brain, kidneys and developing fetus

Who’s affected?

Methyl-Hg pose no health threat to most, but 3 groups

are at high risk through ingestion:

Pregnant womenNursing infantsYoung children

Mercury’s Fate in the Environment

Phytoplankton: 0.025 ppmZooplankton: 0.123 ppmSmelt: 1.04 ppmTrout: 4.83 ppmHerring Gull Eggs: 124 ppm = 4960 times

WHAT’S UP NATIONALLY?

Retail sale ban of mercury thermometers

Regional sales bans

Labeling

Retirement Vs Recycling

Where is Mercury in the Hospital?

Thermometers

Fluorescent lamps

Thermostats, batteries

THE BIG ONE

Mercury in MY hospital?

Lab Chemicals BarometersCleaning Solutions Electric SwitchesPharmaceutical PreservativesEsophageal DilatorsCantor TubesFeeding TubesPressure Gauges

Where Else?

Esophageal Bougies, Feeding Tubes, Miller Abbott Tubes

Dental Amalgam

Barometers

Used in Respiratory Therapy to calibrate instruments

TWO TOUGH ONES

Laboratory ChemicalsMSDS vs Certificate of Analysis

Drain Traps

Places It Hides

Cleaning ProductsBleach, Cleansers

Pharmaceutical Products Thimerosal

Thermostat ProbesIndustrial ThermometersPressure Gauges

Some Things to Do:

Work with Purchasing

Spill Clean Up

Training and AwarenessTraining and AwarenessTraining and Awareness

SPILL CLEAN-UP

Spill KitsWhat NOT to use:

vacuum cleanerbroom

What to use:tapeflashlightstiff papereye droppermercury vacuum

GET HELP!

Safe Storage