Anmerkungen:
In: International Conference on Climate Change Impact and Adaptation (I3CIA-2013), Center for Climate Change and Sustainability Research (3CSR), Department of Civil Engineering DUET - Gazipur, Bangladesh
Nach Informationen von SSRN wurde die ursprüngliche Fassung des Dokuments March 11, 2016 erstellt
Beschreibung:
Chittagong, the commercial capital of Bangladesh, is undergoing unplanned vertical and horizontal urban sprawling resulting in the generation of a large quantity of municipal solid waste (MSW) including a sizeable quantity of healthcare waste (HCW). This study was conducted from December, 2012 to May, 2013 based in field observations, questionnaire survey. The historical data showed that heavy and off-the-monsoon rainfall occur due to climate change which disrupts the normal HCW management process since HCWs are usually discharged without treatment to open places and dustbins. The elevated temperature leads to modified decomposition creating bad odors for citizens along with risks of infection. Again, excessive rain as well as the sea level rise changes the vertical inundation regime as observed from higher intensity and spatial scope of inundation by high tide in low-lying areas of Chittagong such as Chaktai, Bakolia, Chawkbazar, Bahaddarhat, Halishahar, etc which creates risks of spreading of hazardous HCW to larger areas from open dumps by inundated drainage networks. Therefore, climate change related changes are aggravating the harmful impacts from HCW under a scenario when the current HCW collection efficiency is 55 % only. Also, HCW got mixed with other wastes by heavy rain and flash floods which causes their segregation a daunting task for HCW management authority. Besides, unchecked open burning, traditional transport and incineration as well as the land fill disposal releases GHGs (CO2, CH4, N2O, NH3) into the atmosphere. It was also found that land filling is final disposal option for HCW in Chittagong which under excessive rain causes leaching of hazardous pollutants into of surrounding ground water and causes soil toxicity. We recommended one scenarios comparing to existing four to make HCW management more climate resilient