What are biomedical wastes? Give an example.

BIOMEDICAL WASTES are wastes generated during the diagnosis, treatment or immunisation of human beings or animals, or in related research — in hospitals, clinics and pathological laboratories.

Example: used SYRINGES AND NEEDLES. (Also acceptable: soiled dressings, blood bags, expired medicines, human tissues, laboratory cultures.)

One mark for the definition, one for the example — so do not forget the example.

Biomedical waste is treated as a separate category because it is hazardous in two distinct ways: it is INFECTIOUS (it may carry pathogens such as HIV or hepatitis B) and it contains SHARPS that can injure handlers.

Disposal is by INCINERATION, autoclaving or deep burial — never in an ordinary landfill. In India it is segregated at source into colour-coded bins, which is why hospitals keep yellow, red, white and blue containers side by side.