Open AccessA simplified model for biomedical waste management in dental practices - A pilot project at Thane, India
Author(s) -
Om Nemichand Baghele,
Subodh Phadke,
Ashish A. Deshpande,
Jayant P. Deshpande,
Mangala O Baghele
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
european journal of general dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.167
H-Index - 5
eISSN - 2320-4753
pISSN - 2278-9626
DOI - 10.4103/2278-9626.115992
Subject(s) - christian ministry , protocol (science) , government (linguistics) , biomedical waste , hazardous waste , standardization , scheme (mathematics) , business , engineering , medicine , waste management , alternative medicine , political science , mathematics , law , health care , linguistics , philosophy , pathology , mathematical analysis
A lot of biomedical waste (BMW) is generated in dental practices, which can be hazardous to the environment as well as to those who come in contact with the materials, if not dealt with appropriately. Most of the rules world-wide are not specific for dental BMW management and hinder easy understanding by dental practitioners. Because of lack of clear-cut guidelines either from Dental Council of India or Government of India or Indian Dental Association (IDA) on disposal of dental wastes, this article is designed to explore and review on these issues and formulate a simplified scheme. The guidelines by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board from the directives of The Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India through BMW (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998, (BMW-MH-98), similar guidelines being followed elsewhere in the world, the local BMW disposal company′s rules and the IDA′s Clinic Standardization Program guidelines. We developed and implemented a simplified waste segregation protocol for practicing dentists and dental hospitals. A methodological dental waste segregation protocol was required considering its disposal and ill-effects on health and the environment. The simplified scheme provided a good model to be followed in developing countries like India. The scheme improved understanding among dentists because of its self-explanatory nature