Penha bin and waste produced in clinical analysis laboratories in São Tomé and Príncipe: a look at the sustainability of our actions

Abstract

Waste from clinical analysis laboratories poses risks to health and the environment and therefore requires specific care. São Tomé and Príncipe clinical analysis laboratories contribute approximately 0.35% of all waste produced in the country. These wastes are important, not necessarily because of the quantities generated but because of the potential risk to health and the environment. In most laboratories, 64.28% of waste is discarded in the Penha dumpsite and burned in the open air. Only the sharps are separated and incinerated. The objective of this work was to mention the impacts that waste deposited in the Penha dumpsite have on health, the economy and the environment. For this, a documentary analysis and direct observation were carried out. Among the environmental impacts we can mention: increase in the amount of waste in the Penha dumpsite, soil and water contamination and air pollution, while the health impacts include the intoxication of the population and the development of resistant pathogenic microorganisms, finally, the impact on the country's economy is the decrease in local tourism and the decrease in agricultural areas. It is concluded that the final destination of STP clinical analysis laboratory waste represents an economic and environmental public health problem. Measures such as waste segregation at source and recycling must be implemented to reduce the amount of waste deposited in Penha dumpsite.