Nwobi Nnenna Linda, Anetor Gloria Oiyahumen, Nwobi Joseph Chigbogu, Igharo Godwin Osaretin, Adeyemi Anuoluwapo Victor, Badrick Tony, Anetor John Ibhagbemien
Department of Chemical Pathology, Benjamin Carson College of Health and Medical Sciences, Babcock University, Nigeria.
Department of Public Health Science, Faculty of Health Science, National Open University of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria.
Clin Biochem. 2025 Aug 4;139:110985. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2025.110985.
Unregulated and unsustainable human, industrial, and scientific activities generate various forms of waste which contribute immensely to the current rising global, multifaceted environmental health challenges. Laboratory medicine practices continue to be a key contributor to this menace with continuous generation of waste ranging from hazardous chemicals and toxic heavy metals to pathogenic biological waste, all of which pose significant risks to environmental and public health. While the wider scientific community has made significant attempts to adopt sustainable practices aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the laboratory medicine sector has lagged behind in implementing effective waste management strategies, particularly in developing countries, highlighting the need for targeted sustainable laboratory medicine practices. This review analysed relevant existing literature on the impact of laboratory waste on environmental health and explored sustainable laboratory medicine as a potential mitigating approach. The findings revealed that inefficient waste management significantly contributes to environmental degradation. Implementing sustainable laboratory (also known as green laboratory) practices such as use of eco-friendly materials, energy-efficient protocols, resource conservation, innovative waste minimisation, and treatment technologies appears to be a crucial framework that will mitigate the threat posed by laboratory-derived waste on environmental health. The review emphasised the need for a paradigm shift towards sustainable laboratory practices, advocating for comprehensive training, institutional commitment, and regulatory support to mitigate the environmental health impacts of laboratory-generated waste. This will ensure that laboratory medicine continues to advance without compromising public health or the planet.
无节制且不可持续的人类活动、工业活动和科学活动产生了各种形式的废物，这些废物极大地加剧了当前全球多方面日益严峻的环境卫生挑战。检验医学实践仍是这一威胁的主要促成因素，持续产生从危险化学品、有毒重金属到致病性生物废物等各类废物，所有这些都对环境和公众健康构成重大风险。虽然广大科学界已做出重大努力，采用与联合国可持续发展目标相一致的可持续做法，但检验医学领域在实施有效的废物管理战略方面滞后，尤其是在发展中国家，这凸显了针对性可持续检验医学实践的必要性。本综述分析了关于检验医学废物对环境卫生影响的现有相关文献，并探讨了可持续检验医学作为一种潜在缓解方法的情况。研究结果表明，低效的废物管理显著加剧了环境退化。实施可持续检验医学（也称为绿色检验医学）实践，如使用环保材料、节能方案、资源节约、创新的废物最小化和处理技术，似乎是一个关键框架，将减轻检验医学产生的废物对环境卫生造成的威胁。该综述强调需要向可持续检验医学实践转变范式，倡导进行全面培训、机构承诺和监管支持，以减轻检验医学产生的废物对环境卫生的影响。这将确保检验医学在不损害公众健康或地球的前提下继续发展。
