Medical Waste Research Articles

An assessment of awareness of medical waste management amongst primary health care workers in Kano State

The outcome of healthcare services is aimed at preventing potential human health risks and environmental hazards as well as improving wellbeing. In the process, however, wastes that are potentially harmful are generated and poor management of these primary healthcare wastes (HCW) exposes the health workers, patients, patient’s visitors, waste handlers and the general public to health risks. The objective of this study is to assess the waste management practices of health workers in Kano Municipal Local Government Area, Kano state. A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed to collect data from four selected healthcare facilities. A total of 303 health workers randomly selected served as respondents. A structured questionnaire was administered to health workers to determine their knowledge and practice on healthcare waste management. Whereas non-participatory observation checklist was used to collect data on their current practices as regards to healthcare waste management. Data were analyzed, and presented as descriptive statistics using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 and hypothesis was tested using Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient. In conclusion, management of healthcare wastes (HCW) has become one of the critical concerns in developing countries especially Nigeria. Healthcare waste is dangerous, if handled, treated or disposed of incorrectly can spread diseases, and poison people, livestock, wild animals, plants and ecosystems. Healthcare institutions must utilize the most practical options to achieve acceptable standards and practices for healthcare waste management using available technologies. Measures to improve the Primary Healthcare waste management practices in healthcare facilities in Kano Municipal Local Government and the country at large is to enhance training of all health workers on healthcare waste management. It is recommended that colour coded bag be made available for segregation of clinical waste in all primary healthcare facilities.

Decision-making tree to support sustainable waste management in optometric clinical practice and healthcare training programmes

ABSTRACT Clinical relevance Waste management strategies are well documented for employee safety, legal compliance and infection control measures; however, appropriate waste disposal is equally important to minimise adverse environmental impacts. Knowledge on best practices related to the disposal of healthcare-generated waste is crucial for environmental sustainability. Background Global healthcare contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, thereby extending the pervasiveness of climate change. Urgent action is required by the healthcare sector to minimise these impacts. Proper waste management is an alleviation measure that can be easily implemented in healthcare practice. The aim of this study was to calculate the approximate mass of plastic waste generated through lens wear and develop an easy-to-use decision-making tree to support optometrists with sustainable waste management. Methods Data were analysed, from an online survey directed to ophthalmic lens wearers, to determine the mass of annual plastic waste associated with lens wear. Information collated from published studies and clinical experience of the researchers, supplemented by a literature search from online databases, EBSCOhost, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect and PubMed, were used to develop the waste decision-making tree. Results Approximately 48 kg of plastic waste was generated from annual lens wear, of which approximately 83% of recyclable materials were landfilled. The waste management decision-making tree was created to guide optometrists regarding sustainable waste management practices. Conclusion Although this study focused on Optometry, its findings and recommendations have applicability across the healthcare field. Environmental stewardship is a joint responsibility of all healthcare professionals. This study highlighted the importance of incorporating and promoting sustainable clinical measures as well as the embedding and regular updating of clinical evidence on waste management best practices into healthcare training programmes. In doing so, the broader healthcare sector can contribute significantly towards reducing healthcare waste and associated emissions and improving health outcomes, thereby safeguarding the planet and its inhabitants.

Descriptive Analysis of Biomedical Waste Management in Health Care Facilities in the City of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo

Descriptive Analysis of Biomedical Waste Management in Health Care Facilities in the City of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo

Quantifying hospital plate waste and identifying its correlates from patients’ perspectives in Lebanon

Hospital plate waste poses a major challenge facing the present food systems, as providing meals that meet the nutritional requirements and expectations of the patients remains complex for hospital food services. This study aimed to assess the magnitude of plate waste in Lebanese hospitals, evaluate the patients’ satisfaction levels, and identify the determinants of plate waste in participating hospitals. A cross-sectional study was conducted between April 2023 and September 2023, involving 155 in-patients from cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, obstetrics-gynecology, and surgical wards across 16 hospitals in different Lebanese governorates. Plate waste was measured, and patient satisfaction was assessed using a questionnaire. Plate waste represented 31.4% of the total food served, equivalent to 366 tonnes annually in the 16 participating hospitals. Waste was higher in hospitals located in rural areas (p-value = 0.771). The highest waste levels were observed in the obstetrics-gynecology ward and during lunchtime. Vegetables were the most wasted food group. The majority of participants were satisfied with the food service, and low appetite was the main reason for not consuming hospital meals. Food quality (β= −0.17, p-value = 0.049) and governorate (β= −0.18, p-value = 0.019) were determinants of plate waste. The hospital sector is as unique and challenging as other sectors regarding plate waste, which warrants further research to gain deeper insights into waste generation.

Optimization of process parameters of catalytic pyrolysis using natural zeolite and synthetic zeolites on yield of plastic oil through response surface methodology

This study aims to reach a sustainable solution for waste management of medical plastics through value-added product extraction. It uses the DOE technique to examine the effect of natural zeolite and synthetic Al2O3 and SiO2 as catalysts. A small lab-scale pyrolysis setup was used for medical plastic waste management treatment. Pyrolysis of medical plastics with temperature range (350–450 °C), three catalysts, and wt.% are examined. This process is designed for 3 factors and 3 levels, such as type of catalyst, catalyst wt.%, and temperature, to create an L9 orthogonal array. At the same time, the heating rate and residence time are maintained constant at 5 °C/min and 75 minutes, respectively. Furthermore, this study analyzed the input variables in catalytic pyrolysis using response surface methodology. As a result of the study, generating the regression equation for oil yield, F and P values assure the model is significant. Optimization result shows the type of catalyst, temperature, and catalyst concentration values are found as aluminum oxide, 376 °C, and 6.6 wt.%, respectively. HDPE and LDPE oil yield a value of 58.3648 and 61.2051 wt%, respectively, under the optimum variables condition. For oil yield prediction, HDPE and LDPE’s correlation coefficient (R2) were 0.9949 and 0.9943, respectively. Authentication of the model response using a regression equation validated with the experimental result shows good agreement. The produced medical plastic oil has a density, viscosity, flash & fire point, carbon residue, and cetane number 904 kg/m3, 2.3 cSt, 42 & 45 °C, 7.1 wt.% and 51 respectively. Finally, this study concludes that plastic oil extraction from medical waste through catalytic pyrolysis can be a potential source of alternative fuels in IC engines. Priority to optimization and low-cost catalysts highlights medical plastics waste management under the socio-economic model.

Legal Implications Of Ai-Assisted Medical Waste Management In Healthcare Facilities

Medical waste management in healthcare facilities is critical to protecting public health and the environment. Improper handling of medical waste can lead to environmental pollution and pose serious health risks. In Indonesia, Permenkes No. 2 of 2023 provides a regulatory framework for managing medical waste, but its implementation needs to be improved, especially in remote healthcare facilities with limited infrastructure and resources. Technological advances, especially artificial intelligence (AI), offer potential solutions to optimize medical waste management through real-time tracking, sorting, and monitoring. This study aims to evaluate the role of AI in supporting the implementation of Permenkes No. 2 of 2023 in several health facilities and identify barriers to AI adoption. Using a normative legal approach combined with case studies from health facilities in Indonesia, this study highlights the effectiveness of AI implementation in medical waste management. The results show that AI has the potential to improve compliance with medical waste management standards, optimize waste processing, and strengthen supervision through real-time data collection. However, AI adoption faces high costs, a lack of infrastructure, and limited technical expertise, especially in remote areas. The implications of this study emphasize the need for investment in technological infrastructure, health workforce training, and supportive policies to address barriers to AI adoption. This would maximize the potential of this technology in more effective medical waste management for public health and a safer environment.

A Web-Interface Based Decision Support System for Optimizing Home Healthcare Waste Collection Vehicle Routing

Background: The significant increase in home healthcare (HHC) driven by technological advancements, an ageing population, and heightened disease outbreaks—especially evident during the COVID-19 pandemic—has created an urgent need for improved medical waste management. Methods: This paper presents the development of a decision support system with a web-based interface designed for efficient medical waste collection in the HHC sector. Results: The system utilises Flask for backend operations, with HTML and CSS for the user interface, and manages data using JSON files. Its flexible design supports real-time adjustments for various vehicle types and changing waste production locations. It incorporates dynamic routing by employing two sophisticated metaheuristic algorithms: the Strength Pareto Evolutionary Algorithm (SPEA-2) and the Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm (NSGA-II). This setup supports different dataset sizes and vehicle fleets, including Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles and Electric Vehicles (EVs). Conclusions: The automation reduces uncertainties in waste collection by minimising human intervention. The system is built to be easily adaptable for other sectors with minor modifications and can be expanded to test various scenarios with new selectable parameters.

Evaluating Medical Waste Management Practices in Health Institutions within the Rajshahi City Corporation, Bangladesh

Evaluating Medical Waste Management Practices in Health Institutions within the Rajshahi City Corporation, Bangladesh

Identification of Factors Leading to Unfit Medical Products and Other Health Commodities, Disposal Management and Related Perceived Consequences to Health Supply Chain in Rwanda. Case of Rwanda Medical Supply Ltd and Medical & Allied Service Solutions Ltd

Abstract Background Unfit medical products, especially poor quality / damaged / expired / and phased out (no longer accepted for use) are among health challenges that need careful attention and adequate management in developing countries health supply chains, including Rwanda. Not only does medical wastage affect the public health in general, but also it affects financial capabilities. Actually, according to the Management Science for Health, countries on average spend about 25% of their total health expenditure on medicines, and a significant part of the funds expended on critical drugs is wasted. Objectives The main objective of this study is to identify the factors leading to unfit medical products and related perceived consequences to the supply chain management in Rwanda. Specific Objectives I. To identify the most commonly found unfit medical products in RMS and MEDIASOL. II. Explore factors contributing to unfit medico-pharmaceuticals in RMS and MEDIASOL. III. To explore perceived consequences of unfit medical products to the supply chain management in RMS and MEDIASOL. IV. To explore the disposal methods of unfit pharmaceuticals management in RMS and MEDIASOL Methods The mixed method research design used, data were collected from 20 key informant by doing interview, A questionnaire containing open questions was used and cross-sectional study were used both focusing on identify the most commonly found unfit medical products in RMS and their management, then the shared data were transcribed and translated by the researchers. Main ideas from each Key informant were merged under each theme and sub themes by reading and then rereading to identify common words, phrases and perceptions that were coded. Quantitative data were coded and analyzed using SPSS and EXCEL software. Results The study found that the most common unfit medico-pharmaceuticals are the laboratory commodities, malaria commodities and program products including quinine, and Haloperidol retard 50mg/ml injection and Insulin combinations, the study indicated that the Lack of local manufacturers of pharmaceutical products according to market needs; Change of medical products protocols; Minimum shelf life not specified while ordering the products; and Lack of accurate data to facilitate quantification were highlighted by the respondents as the main factors leading to unfit medicinal products. And the study found that the total unfit products were 3% of the average annual loss in unfit medicinal products compared to the total stock. The study recommended that further research should be done on this topic especially by exploring effective mechanisms and strategies to mitigate the wastage of medical products and other health commodities in Rwanda. Conclusions Medical products are critical for preserving lives in morbid diseases, yet they can get unfit from their intended use for different identified reasons in this study as presented in the summary of factors leading to unfit medical products. Those factors are for example the: Low consumption rate of some products; Sudden change of medical treatment protocols; Procurements without specific minimum required shelf life of products at arrival; etc. Then, were identified twenty-three (23) common unfit products also presented in the results, as well as the perceived consequences of unfit medical products to the supply chain; and three main applied disposal methods are incineration, plastic materials recycling and reuse of unfit products for other purposes. Future studies are needed to explore this important topic more broadly and come up with sustainable strategies to properly manage the medical products throughout the entire supply chain

EDI&S SO03 Replacing Single-use Chloraprep with Low Carbon Cost-effective Surgical Skin Preparation: A QI Project for Sustainability in Surgery

Abstract Background Operating theatre waste accounts for approximately 50% of all hospital waste produced in the NHS [1] and two-thirds of carbon contributions come from single-use items [2]. With a major goal of the NHS being net-zero, surgeons have a collective responsibility for reducing the carbon footprint through eliminating single-use equipment and plastic waste such as Chloraprep wands. The aim of this quality improvement project was to introduce the use of chlorhexidine solution poured into reusable gallipots and applied using reusable sponge-holders into local practice, which is more environmentally friendly, significantly cheaper and is the first-line skin preparation recommended by NICE [3]. Method Chloraprep use in consecutive operations performed by the trust in a month before and after the intervention was retrospectively collected and categorised based on specialties. The intervention was a series of local oral presentations, leaflets and posters to highlight the benefits of chlorhexidine solution over Chloraprep. The change in percentage of Chloraprep use in all cases completed in 1 month pre- and post-intervention was retrospectively collected and analysed. Further qualitative data was obtained through pre- and post-intervention surveys. Results There was a reduction in use of Chloraprep across all specialties targeted by the intervention, with 27% of cases pre-intervention and 24% of cases post-intervention using Chloraprep. The highest percentage reduction was seen by the local upper gastrointestinal surgery team (37%). The percentage reductions in the cases using Chloraprep 10 days post intervention were general surgery 9%, upper GI 3%, colorectal 1% and vascular 6%. The pre- and post-intervention surveys also showed a decrease in Chloraprep use from 94.1% to 80% and corresponding increased use of swabs and antiseptic solution. 100% of the responders agreed with using the sustainable option. Conclusion The educational intervention has proven to be effective in achieving the aims of this project. Critical analysis of the literature has shown no difference in surgical site infection rates between the two options [2]. However, there is a need for high quality trials that directly compare the clinical effectiveness of both methods of application. We hope to encourage surgeons and theatre staff to opt out of using Chloraprep and consider the use of swabs dipped in chlorhexidine alcohol solution. Thus, we recommend the re-usable low carbon low-cost alternative method and encourage efforts to promote sustainability in surgery.

EDI&S SO08 A novel approach to environmentally sustainable surgical theatre by rationalising surgical instrument set – a qualitative analysis

Abstract Background The surgical theatres are a major source of hospital waste generation. The NHS has set a net zero supply chain target by 2045. This aim is supported by the RCS intercollegiate green theatre checklist to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. One key area identified in this process, that will support the net-zero target is surgical instrument tray rationalisation. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was identified as one of the most common surgical procedures performed in England. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the impact of rationalising the number of surgical instruments, enabling surgeons to drive towards net zero surgery. Method Our Trust participated in this study, in collaboration with NHS England sustainable procurement team and the innovation agency. Total 58 cholecystectomies performed across two sites, Pinderfields and Dewsbury were included in this prospective audit undertaken from January – March 2023. The surgical tray checklists were used to record the actual instrument usage and noted the redundant and supplementary instruments. This data presented to a surgical advisory group, who agreed on routine instruments and proposed removal of redundant. A green pilot tray was approved and used for cholecystectomy. Qualitative questionnaire feedback was collected from surgeons and operation theatre staff from both sites. Results The instrument use matrix revealed almost 50% instruments from the previously used major tray were never used in any of the 58 cholecystectomy surgeries performed. Subsequently, based on the use matrix data, we switched from using major tray containing 84 instruments, to a reduced size tray containing 46 instruments including re-usable metal ports. Survey results revealed tray rationalisation led to easier and faster surgery preparation, improved efficiency and a reduction in waste, thereby reducing the cost to the Trust. It was also noted that having a smaller tray means less time to count instruments during the surgical pause. Conclusion The results of tray rationalisation are very positive and have demonstrated cost savings, carbon reduction and time saved preparing for surgery and the post-operative instrument count. This pilot study has shown that by making the surgical set smaller, savings have been achieved from a reduction of slots required per machine cycle for decontamination. Tray rationalisation goes some way towards the net goal of zero carbon surgery and delivering a sustainable future.

Evaluation of steel fibrous concrete impact resistance properties utilizing incinerated biomedical waste ash for a sustainable future construction

Evaluation of steel fibrous concrete impact resistance properties utilizing incinerated biomedical waste ash for a sustainable future construction

Knowledge, Awareness, and Perceived Attitude of Biomedical Waste Management Among Healthcare Personnel

Knowledge, Awareness, and Perceived Attitude of Biomedical Waste Management Among Healthcare Personnel

Switching to reusable operating theatre equipment: lessons learnt from sterile light handle projects in two Australian hospitals.

Replacing single-use operating theatre equipment with reusables might be one strategy for reducing the carbon footprint of operating theatres. However, in Australia, where the energy mix is predominantly fossil-fuel-based, the re-sterilization of reusables may increase the carbon footprint. We analyzed the financial and environmental impacts of introducing reusable operating theatre light handles in two NSW hospitals. The effects on cost, waste, and carbon footprint of replacing disposable light handle covers with reusable handles in each hospital were analyzed over 12 months using procurement, waste and sterilization data, and life cycle assessment. Energy requirement for sterilization of reusable handles, increasing alongside weight of the handle, resulted in higher carbon footprint than using disposable covers. At one hospital, using a heavy handle increased carbon emissions sixfold, while the cost of handle sterilization exceeded the cost of disposable covers, resulting in 11% higher cost per use. At the other hospital, using a lighter handle increased carbon emissions by 40% per use, while sterilization cost was less than the cost of disposable covers, resulting in 14.8% lower cost per use. Scenario modelling indicated that sterilizing handles as part of a hollowware set rather than as individual items would significantly reduce cost and carbon footprint. At both hospitals, associated clinical waste was essentially eliminated. Judicious replacement of disposable covers with lightweight yet durable reusable handles can reduce costs, but increases carbon footprint in the current Australian energy context. Adopting predominantly renewable energy and more efficient sterilization practice would mitigate this.

Evaluation of barcode-assisted medication preparation technology for liquid medication doses.

In an effort to expedite the publication of articles, AJHP is posting manuscripts online as soon as possible after acceptance. Accepted manuscripts have been peer-reviewed and copyedited, but are posted online before technical formatting and author proofing. These manuscripts are not the final version of record and will be replaced with the final article (formatted per AJHP style and proofed by the authors) at a later time. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes associated with barcode-assisted medication preparation (BCMP) technology and practice workflows for oral syringe dose preparation in a health-system pharmacy department. This evaluative study was conducted at a flagship quaternary academic medical center. An electronic medical record (EMR)-integrated BCMP workflow was implemented in the central pharmacy operational area to enhance the safety of oral syringe dose preparation. The primary endpoints assessed compliance with BCMP implementation and the rate at which potential preparation errors were identified. The secondary endpoints evaluated operational markers of dose preparation batching, information technology enhancement needs, and medication waste avoidance. A 95% rate of compliance with the BCMP workflow was observed over 2 years. The composite near-miss detection rate improved from year 1 to year 2 of implementation (0.89% vs 0.94%). The composite rate was influenced by increased yearly compliance with BCMP (93.8% vs 95.3%). A total of 176,679 preparations were reviewed in the 2-year period, including 81,240 in year 1 and 89,638 in year 2. The rate at which orders were rejected by pharmacists decreased over time (0.26% in year 1 vs 0.24% in year 2). Of the 1,005 wrong ingredient warnings, only 4 were overridden; in all other instances, the order was rejected at pharmacist checking due to use of an incorrect product in the preparation history. Wrong ingredient warnings led to canceled preparations in 96.1% of alert instances. EMR-integrated BCMP technology aligned with safety efforts in the oral syringe dose preparation process reduced potential waste of medications and allowed insight into operational performance and volume indicators.

Noninferiority Randomized Clinical Trial: KIM Sling With Reusable Trocars Versus TVT Exact Sling.

The Neomedic Knotless Incontinence Mesh (KIM) sling with sterilizable trocars decreases medical waste versus midurethral slings with disposable trocars. Limited comparative data exist. The aim of the study was to assess to the success of the retropubic KIM sling compared to the Gynecare TVT Exact sling. This was a single-center, randomized noninferiority trial comparing outcomes of 2 retropubic slings-KIM sling and TVT Exact sling-in women with stress urinary incontinence from August 2021 to May 2023. Primary outcome was subjective success at 6 weeks defined by a composite outcome of the response to the question #17 on the The Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20 questionnaire and no retreatment of stress urinary incontinence. Secondary outcomes included rates of urinary retention, mesh erosion, and reoperation for mesh complications. Sample size estimate based on noninferiority margin of 14%, equal success of 90%, alpha 0.05, and 80% power with a 20% dropout was 72 per group. Among 147 patients, 74 (50.3%) were randomized to KIM sling versus 73 (49.7%) to TVT exact. The rates of 6-week success were 68.5% for the KIM sling and 83.3% for the TVT exact with a risk difference 14.8% (95% confidence interval, 1.1-28.5). The KIM sling is not noninferior to the TVT Exact sling. There were no differences in secondary outcomes. The KIM sling is not noninferior to the TVT Exact sling for success at 6 weeks based on a composite outcome score. This clinical trial is ongoing to assess outcomes at 6 months and 1 year. (Clinicaltrials.gov NCT04985799).

From waste to resource: Hydrogen generation and antimicrobial activity of Ag-based photocatalysts recovered from biomedical waste

Electrocardiogram (ECG) disposable electrodes contain a substantial amount of silver (Ag), which can be extracted and recycled. Most current methods for recovering Ag from waste are expensive and environmentally harmful. This study investigated a sustainable chemical process for extracting Ag from discarded medical electrodes using a simple Cu(II) solution under moderately acidic conditions. Using response surface methodology (RSM) based on a three-level, full-factorial design, the optimized extraction conditions were determined as pH = 4.78, T = 80°C, [Cu(II)]₀ = 8.0 × 10⁻³ M, and [NaCl]₀ = 3.72 M. Under these conditions, a process efficiency approaching 100 % was achieved. Moreover, the recovery of metallic silver exceeded 85 %, even when using real matrices. (i.e., discarded ECG electrodes). As a result, the Ag-containing leachate solutions were utilized to synthesize silver-based materials with varying Ag content. These materials demonstrated (i) excellent photocatalytic activity for hydrogen production in aqueous solutions containing organic compounds and (ii) significant antipathogenic properties. In summary, effective Ag/TiO₂ photocatalytic materials with high efficiency for hydrogen production and antimicrobial activity were successfully prepared through a novel, sustainable, and cost-effective chemical recovery process of silver from discarded ECG electrodes.

Simulation-based genetic algorithm for optimizing a municipal cooperative waste supply chain in a pandemic

The quantity of medical waste produced by municipalities is on the rise, potentially presenting significant hazards to both the environment and human health. Developing a robust supply chain network for managing municipal medical waste is important for society, especially during a pandemic like COVID-19. In supply chain network design, factors such as the collection of non-infectious waste, transporting infectious waste from hospitals to disposal facilities, revenue generation from waste-to-energy initiatives, and the potential for pandemic outbreaks are often overlooked. Hence, in this study, we design a model incorporating COVID-19 parameters to mitigate the spread of the virus while designing an effective municipal medical waste supply chain network during a pandemic. The proposed model is multi-objective, multi-echelon, multi-commodity and involves coalition-based cooperation. The first objective function aims to minimize total costs, while the second objective pertains to minimizing the risk of a COVID-19 outbreak. We identify optimal collaboration among municipal medical waste collection centers to maximize cost savings. The COVID-19 prevalence risk level by the waste in each zone is calculated pursuant to their inhabitants. Additionally, we analyze a system dynamic simulation framework to forecast waste generation levels amid COVID-19 conditions. A metaheuristic based on the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II is used to solve the problem and is benchmarked against exact solutions. To illustrate our approach, we present a case study focused on Tehran, Iran. The results show that an increase in the amount of generated waste leads to an increase in the total costs of the supply chain.

COVID-19 pandemic microplastics environmental impacts predicted by deep random forest (DRF) predictive model

BackgroundMicroplastic pollution is a pressing issue with far-reaching environmental and public health consequences. This study delves into the intricacies of predicting microplastic pollution during the COVID-19 pandemic in Tehran, Iran.MethodsThe research introduces a rigorous comparative analysis that evaluates the predictive prowess of the Deep Random Forest algorithm and established benchmarks, such as Random Forest, Decision Trees, Gradient Boosting, AdaBoost, and Support Vector Machine. The evaluation process encompasses a meticulous 70–30 training–testing split of the main data set. Performance is assessed by analysis metrics, including ROC and statistical errors. The primary data set encompasses distinct categories, including household wastes, hospital wastes, clinics wastes, and unknown-originated susceptible waste which is categorized in Infected items, PPEs, SUPs, Test kits, Medical packages, Unknown-originated pandemic mircoplastic waste. Deliberately, this data set was partitioned into training and testing subsets, ensuring the robustness and reliability of subsequent analyses. Approximately 70% of the main database was allocated to the training data set, with the remaining 30% constituting the testing data set.ResultsThe findings underscore the proposed algorithm’s supremacy, boasting an impressive AUC = 0.941. This exceptional score reflects the model’s precision in categorizing microplastics. These results have profound implications for environmental management and public health during pandemics.ConclusionsThe study positions the proposed model as a potent tool for microplastic pollution prediction, encouraging further research to refine predictive models and tap into new data sources for a more comprehensive understanding of microplastic dynamics in urban settings.

Putting biomonitors to work: native moss as a screening tool for solid waste incineration

Solid waste incineration (SWI) can release numerous air pollutants although the geographic reach of emissions is not routinely monitored. While many studies use moss and lichens for biomonitoring trace elements, including around SWIs, few investigate the complex, multi-element footprint expected from SWI emissions. This study develops using native moss as a screening tool for SWI while also informing community concerns about an aging incinerator in rural Oregon, USA. Trained community volunteers helped collect 36 composite samples of epiphytic moss (Orthotrichum s.l.) along a 32-km transect from the SWI. We used ICP-MS to measure 40 elements in moss, including 14 rare earth elements (REEs) previously unexplored for SWI. We compared the elemental signatures of samples with an emissions profile for SWI and modeled relationships between element concentrations and distance from the facility using nonparametric regression. The chemical signatures in moss pointed to SWI as a source, potentially through both stack and fugitive dust emissions. The strongest models described farther-dispersing elements, including mercury and cadmium (xR2 = 0.65 and 0.62, respectively), and suggested most deposition occurs within 5 to 10 km of the facility. Elements often associated with soil and dust, like arsenic and chromium, exhibited localized peaks within 0.2 km of the incinerator (xR2 = 0.14–0.3). Three novel elements—cesium and REEs europium and gadolinium—also showed promise as atmospheric tracers for SWI. Gadolinium, a contrast reagent for MRIs, could reflect medical waste incineration by the facility. We include additional analysis and discussion to help stakeholders use results effectively.