African Journal of
Environmental Science and Technology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Environ. Sci. Technol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0786
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJEST
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 1126

Full Length Research Paper

Assessment of air pollutant emissions from healthcare waste incinerators of different design features

Anicetus Honest
  • Anicetus Honest
  • Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, P. O. Box 743, Dodoma, Tanzania.
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Samwel Manyele
  • Samwel Manyele
  • Department of Chemical and Mining Engineering, University of Dar es Salaam, P. O. Box 35131, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
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Josephat Saria
  • Josephat Saria
  • Department of Environmental Studies, The Open University of Tanzania, P. O. Box 23409, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
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Julius Mbuna
  • Julius Mbuna
  • Dar es Salaam College of Education, P. O. Box Private Bag, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
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  •  Received: 09 July 2020
  •  Accepted: 11 August 2020
  •  Published: 31 October 2020

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to e valuate the levels of gaseous emissions from four different healthcare wastes incinerators in three regional hospitals and one national hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The incinerators studied differ in terms of capacity (kg/h) and design features. Five gaseous air pollutants (CO, CO2, NOx, and SO2) were analyzed in the sampled flue gases using a portable desktop combustion gas analyzer (model KANE900 Plus). About 29, 30, 34 and 40 consecutive runs were conducted for each incinerator at Amana, Temeke, Mwananyamala, and Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH), respectively. Other properties of the flue gas analyzed include temperature (FT), combustion efficiency (CE), percent excess air, and CO/CO2 ratio. Results showed lower CE range (lowest at Ilala regional hospital (51.4%) and highest at MNH (60.0%). The highest flue temperature was detected at MNH (911°C). The CE and pollutants concentration increased with FT and decreased with percent excess air. Results indicated poor performance of the incinerators, due to higher gaseous emissions above US-EPA standards, putting communities around these hospitals at occupational and public health risks. Installation of various air pollution control devices (APCDs) as well as monitoring and inspection programs is strongly recommended.

 

Key words: Incinerator, combustion efficiency, healthcare waste, flue gas, acidic gaseous emissions, excess air, flue gas temperature.

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This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

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