Ali Pakfetrat; Ali Sajjadi; Aliakbar Dehghan
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background & Objectives: At present, one of the most important environmental issues is dental solid wastes due to its high contents of toxic, pathogen and hazardous agents. The aim of this study was to analyze the quantity and quality of dental solid waste in dental centers of Mashhad.
Materials ...
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ABSTRACT
Background & Objectives: At present, one of the most important environmental issues is dental solid wastes due to its high contents of toxic, pathogen and hazardous agents. The aim of this study was to analyze the quantity and quality of dental solid waste in dental centers of Mashhad.
Materials & Methods:In this descriptive study, 40 dental centers were studied. From each dental center, three samples were taken and analyzed at the successive working days (Sunday, Monday and Tuesday). The samples were manually sorted into 64 different components and measured by digital scale. Then, measured components were classified on the basis of characteristic and hazardous potential as well as material type. Obtained data were analyzed using a descriptive statistics software, SPSS 16.
Results:According to the results, total produced wastes in dental centers in Mashhad were 224.137 kg/day. Per capita and the average generation rate of each dental center were 106.32 g/day-patient and 5603 g/day, respectively. Potential infectious, domestic-type, chemical & pharmaceutical, and toxic wastes consisted of 41.24, 44.17, 9.89, and 4.7% of the generated waste, respectively.
Conclusion: Regarding optimal dental waste management, it is suggested that education of dentists should be done to learn waste reduction, separation and recycling in the offices along with separately collection and disposal of separated fractions of dental solid wastes according to the enacted instructions.
Keywords: Dental solid waste, Potential infectious waste, Domestic-type waste, Chemical &pharmaceutical waste, Mashhad.