Global warming warming and climate change refer
to an increase in average global temperatures mainly by causing the reduction in
escape of infrared waves back to space. Emission of infrared radiation into
space is an important mechanism by which the earth loses heat and cools down.
Atmospheric pollution by molecules that hinder the escape of the infrared
radiation affects the temperature regulatory mechanisms of the earth and thus
affects the climate.
Climate change is already impacting farming, shipping and countless other
business sectors. Natural events and human activities are main culprits to be
contributing to an increase in average global temperatures. This is caused
primarily by increases in “greenhouse” gases such as Carbon Dioxide (CO2).
Lattest research proved that the medical gases are extra potential in causing of
greenhouse-gas effects, they are called as Waste hospital gases , includes all
fugitive anesthetic gases and vapors that are released into anesthetizing
locations and recovery areas.
Waste gas from an anesthesia machine delivery system may be composed of oxygen;
carbon dioxide; nitrous oxide; nitrogen; helium; vapors of volatile anesthetic
agents such as halothane, enfurane, and isoflurane; desflurane and sevoflurane;
or any other agent or gas collected within and evacuated from an anesthesia or
analgesia delivery system used to knock out surgery patients are accumulating in
the Earth's atmosphere, where they make a small contribution to climate change
because they contain chlorine and are believed to have significant
ozone-depleting potential.
The stability of the molecules of halogenated inhalational anesthetics permits
their passage to the stratosphere,where solar ultraviolet radiation dissociates
these molecules to liberate free chlorine, which acts as a catalyst in the
breakdown of ozone and destruction of the ozone layer.
Volatile anesthetic agents share the property of being liquid at room
temperature, but evaporating easily for administration by inhalation. All of
these agents share the property of being quite hydrophobic. Halothane was the
first fluorinated inhaled anesthetic that was wildly successful, rapidly
displacing all other potent inhaled anesthetics.
Inhaled anesthetic gases leak from anesthesia machine systems, as no system is
totally leak-free. The source of the leakage may be from both the high-pressure
and low-pressure systems of the anesthesia machine.
It is generally accepted that small amounts of liquid anesthetic agent spilled
in a well-ventilated room will evaporate before cleanup procedures can be
implemented. When large spills occur - for example, when one or more bottles of
a liquid agent break - specific cleaning and containment procedures are
necessary and appropriate disposal is required. One kilogram (2.2 pounds) of
desflurane, for instance, is equivalent to 2,500 kilograms (5,512 pounds) of
carbon dioxide in terms of the amount of greenhouse warming potential, explained
Martin Vollmer, an atmospheric chemist at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for
Materials Science and Technology in Dubendorf, Switzerland, who led the new
study. "On a kilogram-per-kilogram basis, it's so much more potent" than carbon
dioxide, he said.
According to the manufacturer’s Material Safety Data Sheet for enflurane and
desflurane, disposal of these waste liquids should be handled in accordance with
rules and regulations set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as
criteria for use with hazardous waste. The identifying code number, D022, is
used for both liquids and describes for the waste handling contractor why the
material is being classified as hazardous.
Operation Theater (OT) pollution can be minimized by use of scavenging systems,
installation of more effective ventilation systems, and increased attention to
equipment maintenance and leak detection. Waste gas scavenging system is defined
as a device that collects gas from the patient circuit and removes excess
anesthetic gases and vapors that are released from the equipment used or are
exhaled by the patients. To manage waste anesthetic gases appropriately, it is
essential that all anesthesia professionals be knowledgeable. Their Work
practices and suitable techniques commonly known to help reduce the
concentration of trace anesthetic gases present in the work environment. All
anesthetic systems shall be operated and maintained according to the
manufacturer’s recommendations.
In easy words we can say that Collect the liquid spilled and the absorbent
materials used to contain a spill in a glass or plastic container. Tightly cap
and seal the container and remove it from the anesthetizing location. Label the
container to clearly indicate its contents.Transfer the sealed containers to a
designated waste disposal service area that handles chemical waste. Empty
anesthetic bottles are not considered to be regulated waste. They may be
discarded with ordinary trash or recycled.
In order to limit global warming to 2°C and avoid the worst effects of climate
change, the world needs to invest an additional $44 trillion in clean energy
more than $1 trillion per year for the next 36 years.rather this expenditure
public awarness along their practicable approach is need of the hour.