INTRODUCTION

The Bio-Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998 published vide notification number S.O. 630 (E) dated July 20, 1998, by the Government of India in the erstwhile Ministry of Environment and Forests provided a regulatory framework for the management of BMW generated in the country.1,2 The term “biomedical waste” means any waste generated during the diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of human beings or animals or research activities pertaining thereto or in the production or testing of biological or in health camps, including the categories mentioned in Schedule I appended to these rules.3,4

Improper segregation and disposal of BMW and mixing it with municipal waste can result in the possible exposure of the health care workers, waste-handlers, waste-pickers, and also of the general public to deadly infections, such as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, hepatitis B, etc.2,5-7 Dental practices generate huge amounts of BMW in the form of cotton, latex, plastic, glass, sharps, and extracted teeth and other materials which may be contaminated with blood and body fluids.8,9

Very few studies were conducted on awareness of BMW management procedures among dentists in India. However, no such study was done comparing dentists associated with the institution and private practitioners; hence, we planned to conduct the same in the cities of North India. The present study aimed to obtain information about knowledge, execution, and attitude toward BMW and its management. It also aimed to compare the above information between the dentists associated with institutions and private practitioners.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present study was done in various cities of North India. The study was conducted for a period of 4 months from January to April 2017. A total of 700 registered dentists were included in the study. However, out of these, only 614 dentists took part in the study [51% Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) and 49% Master of Dental Surgery (MDS)], of which 293 (48%) were associated with institutions and 321 (52%) were private practitioners.

Inclusion Criteria

Only those dentists were selected in the study who were either doing private practice or associated with institutions.

Exclusion Criteria

Dentists associated with institutions as well as and having private setup were excluded from the study.

A full description of the study protocol was submitted to the ethical review committee of the institute; however, as there would be no pressure on the respondents to participate in the survey and their anonymity would be maintained, no formal ethical approval was necessary. Informed consent was given by each respondent included in the study. A self-administered questionnaire was designed consisting of 36 questions. It was divided into four categories, namely, general information, knowledge of rules, execution of rules, and attitude of the dentists toward BMW and its management. The dentists were approached personally or through e-mail. They were requested to fill the questionnaire and mail it back within a week’s time. The data were thus collected and subjected to statistical analysis.

Statistical Analysis

Frequency distribution and chi-square test along with paired t-test were used to compare the data obtained between the private practitioners and institution-associated dentists.

RESULTS

A self-structured close-ended questionnaire was prepared and was distributed among 614 participants (51% BDS and 49% MDS), of which 293 (48%) were associated with institutions and 321 (52%) were private practitioners (Table 1).

The study revealed only 52 (8.5%) were not immunized against hepatitis or tetanus and 284 (46.3%) were immunized for both.

Table 1

Frequency distribution according to educational qualification and association with institution and clinic

Educational qualificationn (%)
 BDS314 (51)
 MDS300 (49)
 Total614 (100)
Association      
 Institute293 (48)
 Clinic321 (52)
 Total614 (100)

A total of 289 (89%) private practitioners reported that 0 to 2 kg per day of waste was generated and only 34 (11%) reported 2 to 5 kg waste generation. All (100%) institutional respondents reported >5 kg waste generation every day.

Daily frequency of waste disposal was reported by 244 (83%) institution-associated respondents and 175 (55%) private practitioners.

A total of 339 (55%) respondents said they were aware of rules laid down by government, and 275 (45%) had no knowledge (p < 0.001). About 280 (96%) respondents associated with institution said there was BMW disposal committee and only 21 (7%) clinic-associated respondents said they followed BMW disposal policy.

Awareness about categories was quite high, as 549 (89%) respondents said they were aware of categories.

Regarding Bureau of Indian Standards of plastic bags, only 14% overall awareness was recorded, which was quite low. Only 18% private practitioners and 9% institution-associated dentists were aware about it.

Only 109 (18%) respondents said they were aware that records and register could be inspected by government authorities. The knowledge was poor irrespective of association with institute or clinic.

About 76% were not aware that untreated human anatomical waste (extracted teeth and unfixed biopsy tissues) and soiled waste should not be stored beyond 48 hours. Irrespective of association with institution or clinic, the knowledge was inadequate.

The knowledge was inadequate for both cytotoxic and biohazard symbol.

A total of 489 (80%) respondents said they maintained a record of sterilization, and only 125 (20%) said they do not maintain any record. Most of them, irrespective of educational qualification, maintained the records: 100% institution-associated respondents said they maintained but only 61% private practitioners maintained the record.

Table 2

Frequency distribution for need for educational programs and CDE attended

Educational qualificationChi-square  p-value
BDS      MDS
CountN%      CountN%
Need for educational programNo10134.50      18758.3034.795<0.001
      Yes19265.50      13441.70            
Training/CDE attendedNo26791.10      30093.501.178  0.278
      Yes268.90      216.50            

Surprisingly, 100% clinical respondents did not maintain BMW management register and 91% institutional respondents said they have BMW management register (p < 0.001).

Institutions fared better in terms of safe, ventilated and secured location for storage, segregation of waste before disposal, trained staff, association with BMW treatment facility, and availability/use of color-coded bins (in contrast, only 54% private practitioners used these protocols).

A total of 293 (100%) institutions had color-coded bags, but only 175 (54%) private practitioners mentioned the use of recommended colored bags for disposal.

A total of 468 (76%) respondents segregated waste before disposal, whereas 146 (24%) did not segregate waste. All 293 (100%) institution-associated respondents reported segregation of waste before disposal, whereas only 175 (54%) private practitioners did so.

Regarding human anatomical waste, 298 (48%) respondents were aware of its disposal in the yellow colored nonchlorinated plastic bags, whereas 316 (51%) were not aware. About 136 (46%) institution-associated dentists were aware of correct disposal bag and 162 (50%) private practitioners gave correct answers.

Regarding sharps and needles, 513 (84%) respondents gave correct answer, whereas 10 (16%) dentists gave incorrect answers. Two hundred fifty-seven (88%) institution-associated dentists and 256 (80%) private practitioners were aware of its disposal.

A total of 383 (62%) respondents admitted that they directly dispose (developer/fixer) into sewer. Even 119 (41%) institution-associated respondents and 264 (82%) private practitioners were not aware of its correct disposal.

Only 143 (23%) respondents stored lead foils/mercury separately before disposal. Only, 121 (42%) institution-associated respondents did separate storage, whereas 21 (6%) private practitioners stored separately and then discarded.

Knowledge regarding expired medicines was very low among the dental personnel. Only 28% knew the correct way of disposal. About 30% institution-associated respondents’ and 25% private practitioner’s answers were correct.

A total of 285 (46%) respondents said safe management of BMW was responsibility of government and 329 (54%) respondents said it should be teamwork between government and dentists. A sharp contrast was seen as 75% institute-associated respondents said it should be teamwork, whereas 66% private practitioners said government should be responsible (p < 0.001).

However, both groups were of same opinion that improper waste management is hazardous.

About 54% of institution-associated dentists said BMW management is not frequently followed due to lack of awareness, whereas 78% private practitioners quoted extra burden as the reason.

Need for educational program, training, and continuing dental education (CDE) among both groups is shown in Table 2.

DISCUSSION

The Bio-Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998, published by the Government of India under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, provides a regulatory framework for the management of BMW generated in the country.

Biomedical waste is an issue with serious implications. According to the World Health Organization, hospital waste yields 80 to 85% of nonhazardous waste and 15 to 20% of hazardous waste. The hazardous waste can be infectious (10%) like sharps or noninfectious (5%), such as chemical and pharmaceutical waste.5 Dental professionals are at a higher risk for acquiring cross-infection while treating patients, as most pathogens have been isolated from saliva.10-12 These pathogens including virulent strains of viruses and bacteria, which have hazardous effect on human health are involved in the segregation and disposal of BMW.4,13 Dental hospitals/clinics use instruments and materials that are directly exposed to blood and saliva. Furthermore, many chemicals, such as acrylics, impressions materials, and mercury are used in dentistry which if not properly discarded can lead to potential threat to the environment.14,15

Most of the survey studies carried out on awareness of BMW management procedures among dentists in India have been done on general and private dental practitioners and even lesser on those associated with dental institutions, which also contribute BMW in large quantity. However, the limitations of these studies were that participants may have been following the aforesaid guidelines of waste management protocol at one workplace and not at the other so keeping this in mind, we included dentists associated with only institutions or private clinics and excluded those associated with both. Furthermore, as no such study was reported comparing dentists associated with the institution and private practitioners, we planned to conduct the same in the cities of North India.

A self-administered questionnaire was used in our study as it allows us to gather large amount of data quickly and economically. Our study had 614 participants, which was higher than those of Arora et al16 and Singh et al8 study that had a sample size within the range of 100 to 200. Our study further divided respondents based on their association with the institution (48%) or private clinic (52%) which is not reported to have been done previously.

In our study, 89% private practitioners reported that 0 to 2 kg per day of waste is generated and only 34 (11%) reported 2 to 5 kg waste generation. All (100%) institutional respondents reported waste generation of >5 kg every day, which was similar to the study conducted by Khandelwal et al.17

About 55% of respondents said they were aware of rules laid down by government which was in contrast to Sood and Sood2 and Kapoor et al,18 the difference could be attributed to the difference in the sample size.

Awareness about categories was quite high with 549 (89%) respondents, which was in contrast to Singh et al.8 This can be due to the fact that institutional participants invariably had high response rate about awareness of categories.

Institutions fared better in terms of safe, ventilated, and secured location for storage, segregation of waste before disposal, trained staff, and association with BMW treatment facility, which was unique as no other study had collected separate data for institutions.

About 76% of respondents had knowledge of color-coded bins which was similar to Narang et al6 and in contrast to Khandelwal et al,17 Kapoor et al,18 and Bala et al.15

About 76% of respondents segregated waste before disposal, whereas 24% did not segregate waste which was similar to Sudhakar and Chandrashekhar19 and Ogden et al.20

Regarding sharps and needles, 84% respondents gave correct answer which was similar to Sood and Sood.2

About 62% of respondents admitted that they directly dispose (developer/fixer) into sewer which was similar to Khandelwal et al17 and Singh et al.8 Developer solution does not contain silver, hence it can be diluted and put into sewer; whereas, on the contrary, fixer solution contains silver and if put into sewer it will increase the metal load in the sewer which is not allowed as per environmental protection rules. Spent fixer solution contains high amounts of silver, and thus should be stored separately and handed over to certified buyers.

About 23% of respondents stored lead foils/mercury separately before disposal, which was in contrast to Singh et al.8

About 72% incorrectly disposed of expired medicine, which was similar to Sood and Sood2 and Singh et al.8 Expired medicine is considered as cytotoxic waste and thus should be disposed of in a secured landfill.

About 54% of respondents said that it should be a teamwork between government and dentists, which was in contrast to Khandelwal et al17 and Kapoor et al18 as the majority of participants believed that it would add extra work and increase financial burden. Safe management of BMW comes across more of an attitude-related issue rather than the absence of or providing technology and facilities.

The present study showed that most of the dentists had adequate knowledge regarding BMW policies and its management. However, it was not satisfactory since there was considerable variation in practice and management of BMW. It was being practiced in mostly all the institutes on a regular basis, but the majority of private practitioners were not practicing it diligently. Lack of availability of service, lack of motivation, high cost factor, poor attitude, and failure to attend educational activities were major defects found among practitioners in the study.

CONCLUSION

Biomedical waste management is not only a social responsibility but a legal necessity as well. Care is required while disposing of BMW to protect and maintain the environment from contamination, and also to ensure the safety of those workers who come into direct contact with it. It should be included in the curriculum for medical, dental, and paramedical so that medical personnel understand the need and importance of segregation and disposal of BMW. Furthermore, it should be made compulsory for oral health care personnel to get their nontechnical and housekeeping staff trained in this field. Continuing dental education and training programs, workshops, and short courses on cross-infection and BMW management should be conducted to improve the knowledge of the health care personnel and to establish the importance of proper management.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors acknowledge and thank all dentists for participating in the study.

Conflicts of interest

Source of support: Nil

Conflict of interest: None