Analysis of health services waste in university hospital before and during the COVID-19 pandemic ; Análise dos resíduos de serviços de saúde em hospital universitário antes e durante a pandemia de COVID-19

Every year 1.4 billion tons of solid waste are produced in the world. In Brazil, separating only the waste from health services (WHS). Approximately, 28% of Brazilian cities carry out inadequate disposal. Consequently, RSS had significant impacts on the environment and public health. The present study was carried out to quantify the waste in health services, specifically before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in a university hospital, located in the city of Campina Grande, Paraíba. The following variables were evaluated: amount and classification of WHS; and composition of WHS by hospital sector. The survey was conducted from 2017 to 2020. The production of infectious/sharp waste in relation to the total of WHS was in the following proportions: 27.7% (2017); 22.46% (2018); 25.16% (2019); and 24.3% (2020). The year 2018 had a high WHS production, with about 164 thousand kg. There was a decrease of almost 7% in 2019 and 2020, compared to 2018. The proportion of recyclable material in relation to common waste was 15.12% (2018), 14.5% (2019) and 12.68 % (2020), showing that these materials are directed to recycling companies. From the data obtained, it was found that it is necessary that the efficiency rate in segregation needs to be improved so that the waste is directed to the proper treatment. ; Todo ano são produzidas 1,4 bilhões de toneladas de resíduos sólidos no mundo. Aproximadamente, 28% das cidades brasileiras realizam a destinação inadequada. Consequentemente, os RSS trouxeram impactos significativos no meio ambiente e na saúde pública. O presente estudo foi realizado buscando quantificar os resíduos nos serviços de saúde, especificamente anterior e durante a pandemia de COVID-19 em um hospital universitário, localizado no município de Campina Grande, Paraíba. Foram avaliadas as seguintes variáveis: quantidade e classificação de RSS; e composição dos RSS por setor hospitalar. A pesquisa foi realizada no período de 2017 a 2020. A produção de resíduos infectantes/perfurocortantes em relação ao total dos ...