J Int Oral Health. 2015 Jun;7(6):84-7.
Quantification of Dental Health Care Waste Generated among Private Dental Practices in Bengaluru City.
Journal of international oral health : JIOH
Pushpanjali Krishnappa, Pruthvish Sreekantaiah, S S Hiremath, Hemanth Thapsey, N S Shivraj, Nandagudi Srinavasa Murthy
Affiliations
Affiliations
- Professor and Head, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Sciences, MS Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
- Senior Professor, Department of Community Medicine, MS Ramaiah Medical College and Hospitals, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
- Professor and Head, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Oxford Dental College and Research Centre, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
- Professor, Department of Community Medicine, MS Ramaiah Medical College and Hospitals, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
- Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, MS Ramaiah Medical College and Hospitals, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
- Professor and Research Coordinator, Department of Community Medicine, MS Ramaiah Medical College and Hospitals, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
PMID: 26124606
PMCID: PMC4479780
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Bengaluru, in India has more than 1148 practicing dentists for a population of 8.42 million. The amount and type of dental health care waste (DHCW) generated by the dental practitioners has to be assessed prior to chalking out and implementation of an effective DCHW management plan. Currently, there is no evidence available regarding the quantity, type, and method of disposal adopted by these practitioners. Hence, this study was conducted with the objective of estimating the quantity of DHCW by the private dental practitioners in Bengaluru city.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample size was estimated to be 110. The sampling frame was constituted from the registered dental practitioners in Bengaluru with the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of Karnataka. Sampling strategy employed included a probability proportional sampling strategy for the four zones in Bengaluru followed by a simple random sampling of clinics from each zone. Standardized weight method was followed to estimate the quantity of different category of waste. Three data collectors who were trained and calibrated collected the information regarding the type and quantity of waste generated, the nature of practice and years of establishment.
RESULTS: Total quantity of waste generated was 0.161 kg/clinic/day with 0.130 kg and 0.026 kg of infectious and recyclables, respectively. The projected data for the actual number of private practices in Bengaluru city showed alarming figures of 41,535 kg and 8307 kg of infectious and recyclable waste being generated every year. Data also showed poor management practices of lead foil and plaster of paris and alarming figures projected annual quantity.
CONCLUSION: The data demonstrated large quantities of hazardous waste generation and poor segregation practices of the practitioners. This warrants the immediate need for collective, voluntary measures to be initiated for appropriate and effective management of DHCW.
Keywords: Dental health care waste; private dental practitioners; quantification
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