The purpose of this study is to investigate the management of medical waste in Korea. For this research six hospitals were surveyed pertaining to the amount of infectious waste produced and disposal systems, and the data collected from medical facilities were analyzed.
The results were as follows: j 1. The amount of infectious medical waste in 1987 was 886 tons, and it increased to 1,857tons and to 7,268tons in 1990 and in 1993 respectively.
2. In 1993, the total amount of medical waste produced by all medical institutes in Korea was 7,268tons. Disposable syringes constituted 54.6% of the total amount, followed by cotton;38.2%, placenta;5.4%, human tissue;1.6%, and still born fetus;0.2%.
´ ´3. In 1993, 2,995tons of medical waste were produced by 70 general hospitals in Seoul, which means 277g per bed per day. In six general hospitals surveyed, the daily average was 480g per bed.
4. Considering the number of the disposal facilities investigated, licensed facilities were 128, combustion facilities 36, and landfill areas three. The number of incinerators was 127 in total, among which 114 were in hospitals and 13 were in licensed companies.
5. The disposal methods were combustion;94.7%, concession;2.7%, recyling;2.1%, landfill;0.4%, and donation for research;0.1%. 51.2% of placenta were conceded for phamacological purpose and 44.4% were combusted:--´ Most of the disposable syringes and the cottons were combusted.
6. The government authorities inspected 26,845 medical institutes, and took administrative actions against 487 institutes, and prosecuted six institutes in 1993. Among 123 licensed facilities inspected, 16 licensed facilities were given administrative measures and four were prosecuted.
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