Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway.
Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway; Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim, Norway.
Radiography (Lond). 2024 Aug;30(5):1272-1276. doi: 10.1016/j.radi.2024.06.018. Epub 2024 Jul 13.
The demand for iodine has increased in the last years, among other factors due to increased medical use. There is no consensus regarding iodinated contrast media (ICM)'s damaging impact on the environment and therefore the producers encourage collecting and recycling ICM waste. The aim of the study was to investigate the ICM waste management in hospitals in Central Norway and to explore the radiographers' attitudes regarding ICM recycling and possible causes of suboptimal waste management.
The link to the electronic survey was sent to all radiographers working with computed tomography within the Central Norway Regional Health Authority. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed.
Results reported from 100 radiographers from eight hospitals show that ICM leftovers are recycled or reused in most cases (26% collect them for recycling and 38% use them for oral administration) while 25% send them to the pharmacy together with other pharmaceutical waste and 8% discard them in the sink or the garbage bin. 25% reported that they are not familiar with their department's procedures related to ICM waste. 84% were concerned about the consequences of ICM waste for the environment.
There were considerable differences in the management of ICM waste amongst the hospitals and also internally within the hospitals. Improper practices, likely caused by lack of disposal plans and/or suboptimal information flow, were reported to a low extent.
Local ICM waste management guidelines which are easily available for radiographers may increase both reuse and recycle rates. Including ICM waste management in the educational curriculum for radiographers can provide early understanding of the rationale behind the procedures and their environmental impact.
由于医疗用途增加等因素，近年来对碘的需求有所增加。关于碘造影剂（ICM）对环境的破坏性影响尚无共识，因此生产商鼓励收集和回收 ICM 废物。本研究旨在调查挪威中部医院的 ICM 废物管理情况，并探讨放射技师对 ICM 回收利用的态度以及可能导致废物管理不善的原因。
向挪威中部地区卫生局所有从事计算机断层扫描的放射技师发送了电子调查链接。进行了描述性和推断性统计。
从八家医院的 100 名放射技师报告的结果显示，ICM 剩余物在大多数情况下被回收或再利用（26%收集用于回收，38%用于口服），而 25%将其与其他药物废物一起送到药房，8%将其丢弃在水槽或垃圾桶中。25%的人表示他们不熟悉自己部门与 ICM 废物相关的程序。84%的人担心 ICM 废物对环境的影响。
各医院之间以及医院内部的 ICM 废物管理存在相当大的差异。据报道，存在不当做法，可能是由于缺乏处置计划和/或信息流动不畅造成的，但程度较低。
为放射技师提供方便获取的本地 ICM 废物管理指南，可能会提高再利用和回收利用率。将 ICM 废物管理纳入放射技师的教育课程中，可以让他们尽早了解程序背后的原理及其对环境的影响。
