Degradation of biomedical waste including plastic waste by fungus periconiella species:

Introduction

A huge quantity of hazardous biomedical waste is produced by artillery of old and new health care organizations, imposing a tremendous stress and load on the disposal system for its treatment and management.1 Presently practiced biomedical waste disposal methods inherit the danger of health hazards, environmental pollution and occupational hazards. Commonly used method of incineration is effective but, is responsible for many health and environmental hazards, as it generates dioxins, furans in the smoke and flyash.2 Dioxins and furans lead to development of neurological ailments among children, reproductive problems in women and increase the risk of skin cancer in the residents of nearby locality. It also liberates sulfur dioxide that may lead to various respiratory and cardiac problems.3 A echo – friendly plasma pyrolysis technology needs very high tem perature and power consumption making it beyond the reach of developing countries. Hydroclaving and Microwaving also do not seem feasible in the context of poor resource nations.4,5,6 Though fungus Aspergillus sp. can degrade soiled cotton but, it causes health hazards. The cattle dung is known to produce biodegradable fungus.7,8 The saprophytic, coprophilic fung us Periconiella sp. cultivated from Indian Deshi cow's dung was tested for its role in degradation of biomedical waste including plastic waste.

Materials and Methods

We obtained dung sample from 50 buffaloes, jersey cows and Indian Deshi cows. The dung from cattle were moistened and incubated at room temperature in glass culture plates for the cultivation of saprophytic, Coprophilic fungus Periconiella sp. The growth appeared over the culture plates containing Indian Deshi cow dung within 15 days but there was no growth on culture plates containing buffalo and jersey cow dungs. The colonies on Indian deshi cow dung had entire margin with compact aerial mycelium. The colonies were raised and velvety exhibiting brown pigment on obverse. Fungal elements were tithed with needle and KOH, LCB preparations were studied under microscope.

Observations and Results

Biomedical waste spread on the pure culture of fungus Periconiella sp. obtained on SDA showed claws from the fungal growth surrounding the biomedical waste mass. It was observed that the decomposition and degradation of soiled cotton, gauze pieces and dressing material were started on the 4^th day, whereas the dissolution of the surgically removed tissue pieces began from 7^th day and the degradation of plastic waste decomposition initiated from 9^th day.

The process of decomposition was observed and recorded on daily basis. On our observation we noted that the applied 25gm biomedical waste mass in separate lumps were completely decomposed within 40 days.

To have a control, the same amount of biomedical waste mass comprised of above material was kept on the pure culture of fungus Aspergillus sp, Fu sarium sp. and Mucor sp.

In control experiment, Aspergillus sp. could degrade soiled cotton only taking 55 days, while Fusarium, Mucor did not show any effect concerning degradation of biomedical waste mass.

Figure 1

Culture of periconiella on cow dung

Figure 2

Soiled cotton degraded

Figure 3

Surgical tissue pieces degraded

Figure 4

Biodegradation of plastic pieces

Discussion

Majority of the hospitals install incinerators for rapid treatment, management and disposal of biomedical waste generated in their hospitals. M any other health care organizations outsource disposal of their biomedical waste to the agencies. Many of these incinera tors are of substandard quality, not complying with the working provisions in the biomedical waste (Management and Handling) Rules, there by betraying the objective of incineration of biomedical waste material as l aid down by Central Pollution Control Board in Delhi and other states (Biswas D 2001).2

Though incineration is a very effective method for disposal of biomedical waste but, it is expensive. Moreover it is inherited with many environmental and health hazards including liberation of dioxins and furans in the smoke and flyash. They can lead to development of neurological disorders in pediatric age group; ailments related to reproductive system in women and increases the risk of skin cancer in the residents of nearby locality. Sulfur dioxide liberated through incinerators cause various respiratory as well as cardiac problems. Each hospital should design its own policy for biomedical waste management based on its set up. All clinical pathology, microbiology laboratories and blood banks have to be abide by the rules and regulations of Biomedical Waste Management 1998 (Ministry of Environment and Forests Notification).2

The cost is another factor influencing proper disposal of biomedical waste. The infectious and noninfectious waste must be segregated and put in color coded bags.

Considering the above factors of environmental hazards, health hazards and economy, the present study of biomedical waste degradation by fungus Periconiella sp. is promising. This method has low health risk and is eco-friendly, less expensive which can be implemented with bare minimum setups. Also it can degrade plastic waste without polluting environment. The degradative enzymes produced by this fungus need to be evaluated.9,10

Conclusion

A mystical, novel, saprophytic Coprophilic fungus Periconiella sp. from Indian Deshi cow’s dung is observed to be a better degrader of biomedical waste mass containing soiled cotton, gauze pieces, dressing material, surgically removed pieces and plastic waste. Moreover it is economical, less demanding and eco-friendly method for biomedical waste disposal including plastic waste.

Source of funding

None.

Conflict of interest

None, as all the authors had contributed equally for isolation, observation, results, analysis and preparation of manuscript.