Section outline

  • Overview and Objectives

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    • The ANHE Practice Forum presents the webinar “Medical Waste Incineration, Impact on Human Health, and Opportunities for Nursing Action.” In the United States (US), the number of operating medical waste incinerators has declined greatly, from more than 6,200 in 1988 to 33 in 2013. Remaining medical waste incinerators have been linked to a range of adverse health effects and environmental justice concerns. Featuring speakers Greg Sawtell, Carlos Sanchez, Deanna Benner, and Jeremy Greene, this webinar provides an overview of the health impacts of medical waste incineration and discusses opportunities for nursing action. We hear from members of the Curtis Bay Community Land Trust, a group that is creating communications with hospital systems that transport waste to Curtis Bay medical waste incinerator (the largest medical waste incinerator in the US!) and health professionals who are taking action on medical waste incineration at their hospital.

      Learning Objectives:

      1. Summarize the recognized health and environmental justice impacts of medical waste incineration.
      2. Discuss barriers that communities might face when advocating for improved health protections from medical waste incineration.
      3. Identify actionable steps that nurses can take to reduce human exposure to the health impacts of medical incineration.

  • Watch Video

  • Evaluation

    In order to receive 1 Nursing Continuing Education (CE) credit, you must complete the course evaluation and receive at least an 80% on the course post-test.

  • Post-Test

    In order to receive 1 Nursing Continuing Education (CE) credit, you must complete the course evaluation and receive at least an 80% on the course post-test.

  • Certificate

  • Next Steps

      1. View the slide deck from Curtis Bay Community Land Trust, 
      2. Check to see if your facility sends waste to Curtis Bay at this link (scroll down to the bottom), 
      3. Read more about medical waste,
      4. Join an ANHE Forum or Committee, 
      5. Sign up to receive information about ANHE events and opportunities, 
      6. Donate to support nurses leading the way in protecting communities, 
      7. See ANHE's library of information and resources on environmental health, 
      8. Use your Nursing Voice to advocate for healthy communities by contacting us here.