Estimation of Persistent Organic Pollutants releases and emission levels from Healthcare Waste in Mwananyamala and Temeke Regional Hospitals in Tanzania

Abstract

This study estimated the amount of polychlorinated dibenzodioxin (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) from healthcare wastes generated in Mwananyamala and Temeke regional hospitals located in Dar es Salaam using Standardized Toolkit for sources of persistent organic pollutant (POPs) developed by UNEP. Healthcare wastes were collected in different categories and measured for fourteen (14) consecutive days. By using a weighing scale machine, the assessment of the healthcare waste generation rate in each hospital was measured. The average amount of healthcare waste were  67.12  Tons/year and 105.34 Tons/year at Mwananyamala and Temeke hospitals respectively. The recommended tolerable daily intake (TDI) of dioxin/furans for an adult is 1.75 x 10-10 g I-TEQ/day. The value obtained in this study (2.38 x 10-4 g 1-TEQ/day) at Mwananyamala hospital and 3.62 x 10-4 g 1- TEQ/day at Temeke is about 1.36 x 106 and 2.07 x 106 times higher than the recommended value for adults respectively. It is hereby recommended the emission of dioxin/furan from hospitals must be controlled and if possible, reduced to below the recommended limit. More detailed studies and the permanent monitoring of air quality around different healthcare facilities would be appropriate.