Evaluation of environmental and health hazards of hospital waste in Osun metropolis

This study investigates the environmental impact of twenty-four (24) unsecured hospital waste samples collected from Osun State General Hospital dumpsites and surrounding soil. The hospitals, with bed capacities ranging from 400 to 600, are situated within residential areas. Through questionnaires distributed to hospital personnel, we gathered data on the types of waste generated, disposal methods, and the effectiveness of waste management practices. Soil samples from dumpsites, compared with control samples from nearby areas, exhibited significant differences in color and chemical composition. Notably, dumpsite soils were darker, while that of control (adjacent soil) were brown and normal and showed higher levels of biochemical oxygen demand, BOD (40 - 195) mg/dm3, chemical oxygen demand, COD (190 - 400) mg/dm3 , and other parameters such as temperature (25.5 - 28)°C, pH (6.41 - 6.48), dissolved oxygen, DO (2.10 - 5.62) mg/dm3, Pb (1.97 - 4.85) mg/dm3, Mn (0.04 - 0.07) mg/dm3, Co (0.21 - 0.33) mg/dm3, Cr (0.42 - 0.50) mg/dm3 and Ni (0.04 - 0.10) mg/dm3 , all exceeding WHO guidelines. These findings underscore the potential health risks posed by improper waste disposal and emphasize the need for improved hospital waste management to mitigate environmental and health hazards.