Assessment of Levels of Pollutants in Ashes, and Flue Gases Emanating from Medical Waste Incinerators in Selected Hospitals in Tanzania.

Anicetus, Honest E. (2021) Assessment of Levels of Pollutants in Ashes, and Flue Gases Emanating from Medical Waste Incinerators in Selected Hospitals in Tanzania. Doctoral thesis, The Open University of Tanzania.

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Abstract

The use of medical waste incinerators appears to be rapidly expanding in developing countries including Tanzania. Problems arising from medical waste have received much attention but relatively less consideration has been given to bottom ash and flue gases. This study focused on assessing heavy metals levels in bottom ash and flue gases in medical waste incinerators found in different Regional Hospitals Temeke, Ilala and Mwananyamala and Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam. From each hospital incinerator bottom ash samples were collected and analysed at the Government Chemist Laboratory Agency (GCLA). Heavy metals concentrations were determined using Inductively Coupled Plasma - Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES) and flue gases (CO, CO2, NO, NOx and SO2) were analysed using a portable desktop combustion gas analyser type KANE900 Plus. The average general healthcare waste generation rate per healthcare ranges from 298.9 kg/day to 1,554.4 kg/day. The level of As was below detection limit, while the maximum concentration of other metals were 0.348 ± 0.161 Cr (Ilala Regional Hospital), 0.019 ± 0.012 Cd (Muhimbili National Hospital, 0.677 ± 0.499 Pb (Ilala Regional Hospital). All the metals investigated exceeded the US-EPA permissible levels. For the Flue gases levels, the maximum combustion efficiency was at Ilala regional hospital with 59.9% and the lowest was at Mwananyamala regional hospital with C.E. of 54.2%. Poor performance of these incinerators puts community around these hospitals at occupational and public health risk. Installation of various air pollution control devices as well as monitoring and inspection programs are hereby recommended. Keywords: Healthcare Waste, Heavy Metals, Air Pollutants, toxic gases, Incineration, Bottom Ash, Fly Ash, Bio-digester, Placenta, Food-staffs and Biogas

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