Title :
Analysis of the efficacy of a novel mobile medical wastewater treatment system
Author :
Chen, Xuening ; Fu, Xiaoling ; Lamarre, Marven ; Stoiberg, Jennifer ; Tian, Jingjing
Author_Institution :
Stevens Inst. of Technol., Hoboken, NJ
Abstract :
The E-Z Solutions mobile medical wastewater treatment device was designed to treat medical wastewater accumulated from surgical operations on disaster relief vehicles in the event a viable sewer connection is unavailable. The device will prevent the spread of disease and other contaminants through wastewater by utilizing multiple filtration steps and the application of germicidal Ultraviolet (UV) light. The spread of disease from contact with biohazard wastewater is estimated to effect approximately 2 billion people around the world, with four-fifths of those contaminated inhabiting developing countries. Children comprise the majority of deaths attributed to waterborne disease due to the reduced strength of their immune systems compared to adults and their sensitivity to dehydration and malnutrition developed from symptoms of common waterborne diseases. Secondary contamination from contact with medical waste water is extremely dangerous given the variety of contaminants in the wastewater.
Keywords :
biomedical engineering; diseases; wastewater treatment; E-Z Solutions; contaminants; disaster relief vehicles; germicidal Ultraviolet light; mobile medical wastewater treatment system; waterborne disease; Biohazards; Contamination; Diseases; Filtration; Immune system; Medical treatment; Pediatrics; Surgery; Vehicles; Wastewater treatment;
Conference_Titel :
Bioengineering Conference, 2009 IEEE 35th Annual Northeast
Conference_Location :
Boston, MA
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4244-4362-8
Electronic_ISBN :
978-1-4244-4364-2
DOI :
10.1109/NEBC.2009.4967811