Importance of Using Cytotoxic Waste Bins



Wastes generated by all medical facilities or research laboratories are not similar. On the contrary, they are subject to specific safety regulations during disposal. OSHA and all regulatory authorities recommend the use of special cytotoxic waste bins to hold such wastes before they are treated and discarded. Following the regulations perfectly can go a long way in protecting individuals and animals while ensuring environment conservation as well.


Trying to dispose of hazardous wastes cannot be done as a routine. You need to check each type of waste generated at a health care unit or lab and segregate them according to properties and risks for causing harm. It is certainly not a task that one can learn easily. This makes it important for you to contact a professional company, adept at cytotoxic waste management.


While it is important to be aware of the potential hazards and take appropriate steps to correct the mistakes, you must discuss the process of waste disposal needed for your facility with a professional who has years of experience in completing such tasks successfully.


Some of the things that you must know about retaining the cytotoxic wastes within your premises before they are transported or treated effectively include:


Cytotoxic Drugs: What are they?


You will often hear cytotoxic drugs being referred to as cytostatic medicines. True, they are more or less the same yet there is a subtle difference between the two. It is alarming to note that the latter often reduces the formation of new cells in the body and affects their division adversely, the firmer is toxic to the bodily cells and kills them off. This is extremely dangerous for a healthy individual who is exposed to such drugs inadvertently. The responsibility of cleaning the facility to keep the risks low lies with the facility owner or management.


Problems of Contamination After Exposure


Increases the risk of developing cancer

The contaminants may affect the genetic component within the body and alter it with adverse effects becoming visible in future

Such contaminants are acutely toxic i.e. they may produce serious health issues within a short time of exposure. Moreover, a single exposure can become too severe for comfort

Many workers who have been exposed to cytotoxic materials/wastes become infertile. Reproduction is inhibited with the fertility and sexual functions affected too


OSHA guidelines


It is important to take note of OSHA guidelines before trying to dispose of the hazardous materials that may affect your life and health along with that of your workers. While the amount of generated wastes must be checked and efforts should be made to keep it low, the professional team entrusted with disposal should collect the waste material from the site of generation to reduce the spread of contamination. The employees of your facility as well as regular cleaners/ janitors must be trained to function within such an environment too. Ideally, yellow or purple color containers need o to be kept handy for the storage of cytotoxic contaminants.


Specialized, reusable cytotoxic waste bins have proved to be the best containers for holding highly toxic materials of late.


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