Radiographic film waste management and recovery

Abstract

Abstract Health facilities in Romania generate hundreds of thousands of tons of medical waste (hazardous and non-hazardous) annually. It is therefore necessary to apply a rigorous management of this waste, in compliance with applicable regulations, especially in the case of waste with a high potential for harmfulness. In the context of the global PANDEMIC of COVID 19, the amount of radiographic films generated has increased, using the classic variant when the moderns investigative devices was no longer available. The legislation requires hospitals and clinics to follow certain rules regarding the management of X-rays films. These are considered private information and must be managed according to the legislation, but silver and other chemicals in the film are toxic to the environment when are disposed uncontrolled. Recycling companies prefer to recover silver from effluents used to obtain classical radiography, recovery that is done by electrolysis and does not require large investments. The paper presents a relatively simple technology of recycling the radiographic films starting from laboratory studies, by leaching them in sodium hydroxide solution and the implications from the point of view of managing such activities.