Bengaluru: A recent study on dental clinics in the city has called for proper segregation of wastes as they often comprise poisonous substances such as lead and mercury.
The study included some 110 clinics registered with the Department of Health and Family Welfare. Some 1,148 dentists are registered with the department, though the total number of clinics in the city is estimated to be around 7,000.
“The need for the study was mainly because the Bio-medical Waste (Management & Handling) Rules have not laid out anything specific for dental healthcare wastes. And sadly, the most common thing as a filler, which includes mercury and can pose a long lasting health hazard if thrown into the environment without proper segregation, as mercury stays in the environment in its pure form,” said Dr Pushpanjali K., Professor, Department of Public Health Dentistry, M.S. Ramaiah University of Applied Science, Bengaluru, who was one of the contributors to the study.
She also revealed that the total quantity of waste generated was 0.161 kg/clinic/day with 0.130kg and 0.026kg of infectious and recyclables, respectively.
“These numbers should cause people and policy makers to start rethinking about segregation and disposal. Wastes such as lead, mercury and fixer need special attention. They have to be stored in air tight containers and sold to a licenced buyer,” she added.
“Even lead foil that is used directly affects the central nervous system,” she explained.
Regarding the need for such a study, Dr Pushpanjali said, “It is important for awareness and educating clinicians and also the authorities to formulate rules to deal with waste coming from the clinics. We cannot afford to neglect it. We need to come up with a workable solution.”
