What is chemotherapy waste?
Chemotherapy waste is any kind of medical waste with traces or gross amount of chemotherapy agents used for cancer treatment and research. Chemotherapy agents are antineoplastic drugs whose main effect is to kill cells that divide rapidly like cancer cells. However, it also kills normal cells like those found in hair, linings of mouth and intestines, skin, bone marrow and joints.
Medical waste with chemotherapy agents are very hazardous because of the intense and serious side effects associated with such drugs. If introduced in the body, a normal person can suffer from disastrous effects and may die due to complications. Because of its toxicity, chemotherapy-containing waste is dealt with separately from other medical wastes.
Gladly, many hospitals and medical centers observe precautions in handling and disposing chemotherapy-laden waste. But all people must be aware of the hazardous nature of trace chemo waste as well as methods how to reduce risk of harm.
Sources of chemotherapy waste
Waste with chemotherapy can be generated mostly from medical facilities, labs and factories. Here are some notable sources:
- Hospitals and medical centers
- Hospices giving palliative care to cancer patients
- Centers specializing in advanced cancer treatment
- Pharmaceutical factories that produce or experiment with chemotherapy drugs
- Lab facilities that experiment or administer chemotherapy drugs
- Homes of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy
These sources may generate huge or minuscule amounts of trace chemo waste at a time. But regardless of amount, waste with trace chemo must be handled cautiously and disposed properly to prevent harm to people and environment.
Important guidelines in handling chemotherapy waste
Waste with trace chemo is dangerous to health of living beings and the environment because of its innate cytotoxicity. Therefore, it must be isolated as soon as it is made in proper containers and must not be sorted or handled in any way. In this way, risk of injury to others is greatly reduced.
Here are other important guidelines for managing trace chemo waste:
- Remember that it is important to dispose trace chemo waste as soon as it’s made. It is not proper to store them in a temporary facility.
- Trace chemo waste comes in many shapes and sizes. It not only consists of needles and syringes used to administer chemotherapy agent, but also the associated medical equipment used.
- Needles and other sharp items used in chemotherapy must be disposed in a separate puncture-proof container apart from other sharps and medical waste items. Mark as ‘trace chemo sharps’.
- Glassware used in mixing different chemotherapy drugs (creating a so-called ‘cocktail’) is disposed in a separate puncture-proof container.
- Empty, unused and expired bottles, wrappers and containers which came in contact with chemotherapy drugs are also classified as trace chemo waste.
- Items like intravenous lines, ports and bandages that are used for chemotherapy are classified as trace chemo waste.
- Items used in cleaning up spills or accidents involving chemo drugs are classified as trace chemo too.
- Personal protective equipment is a must for all people involved in handling and disposing medical waste with trace chemo. They must wear latex or nitrile gloves and overall body gowns. If there is a risk of spillage or release of fumes, waste handlers must don overall face masks, safety goggles or shields to protect nose and eyes.
The goal of managing trace chemo waste is to contain the waste and reduce harm to others before disposal can be done.
What can I do if I am accidentally exposed to trace chemo waste?
Due to strict regulations, it is relatively rare for people to be harmed with trace chemo waste. But it does happen.
If you got accidentally exposed or injured with waste containing traces of chemotherapy products, the first thing to do is to quickly wash the affected area in clean continuously running water for 15 minutes. If eyes are affected, wash the affected part away from the other eye. Have someone to call for help. Do not rub or put anything except water on the affected area. Report to your supervisor or avail medical help quickly.
Spills involving chemo agents must be dealt with quickly. Many spill kits have necessary equipment for such accidents. All other persons should leave the area first. If the spill involves drops of chemo drugs, personnel with gown and two pairs of gloves can handle it. If the spill involves a puddle of chemo drugs, personnel must wear gown and two pairs of gloves, plus safety goggles and respirator. Spills must be wiped using absorbent pads. Then the area is scrubbed with detergent and clean water. All used equipment must be disposed in a trace chemo waste container.
Consequences of improperly handling and disposing chemotherapy waste
Problems caused by undue contact with chemo waste can be very serious and may require hospitalization.
If the chemo drug or its fumes reaches the eye or mucous membranes in nose and mouth, it can cause severe irritation and burns. For the eyes, it can result to scarring of the cornea or damage to inner structures that may lead to blindness. Trace chemo, even in mere drops, spilled in skin can cause serious burns.
More serious problems can develop if the chemo drug is accidentally introduced in the system, which can happen in cases of accidental puncture or ingestion.
Not only does it irritate tissues, but it can also cause gastrointestinal distress, fatigue, immune suppression and damage to vital organs (heart, liver and kidneys).
Some symptoms of accidental administration of chemo drugs, which may happen in mishaps, include:
- Massive body fatigue
- Increased susceptibility to viral and bacterial infections like cough and colds, shingles and infectious diseases
- Bleeding tendencies
- Nausea and vomiting
Because of the gravity of consequences resulting from untreated accidents involving trace chemo agents, suspected cases are advised to avail emergency services quickly for prompt treatment.