Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2020 Apr;120(4):45-48.
doi: 10.1097/01.NAJ.0000660032.02514.ec.

Reducing Waste and Increasing Sustainability in Health Care Settings

Julie Kleber  1 , Bevin Cohen
Affiliations

Reducing Waste and Increasing Sustainability in Health Care Settings

Julie Kleber et al. Am J Nurs. 2020 Apr.

Abstract

Since the 1960s, plastic has been used in the production of medical equipment and products that improve patient comfort, safety, and treatment. Yet an unwelcome challenge has emerged in the years since: how to safely dispose of this material without negatively affecting human health and the environment. Working with medical devices and supplies that are constructed using plastics, nurses are at the forefront of this issue and must identify solutions, collaborate with other health care workers, and lead efforts to establish more sustainable options. This series is in collaboration with the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments (https://envirn.org).

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Rivera AM, et al. The history of peripheral intravenous catheters: how little plastic tubes revolutionized medicine. Acta Anaesthesiol Belg 2005;56(3):271–82.
    1. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. ToxGuide for di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate C24H38O4. Atlanta: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2002 Sep. CAS# 117-81-7. Toxic substances portal; https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxguides/toxguide-9.pdf.
    1. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP). Atlanta: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2011 Mar. CAS ID #: 117-81-7. Toxic substances portal; https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/substances/toxsubstance.asp?toxid=65.
    1. Rafael-Vázquez L, et al. Exposure to diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and monoethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP) promotes the loss of alveolar epithelial phenotype of A549 cells. Toxicol Lett 2018;294:135–44.
    1. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Public health statement. Toxicological profile for di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) Atlanta: Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service; 2002 Sep CAS#: 117-81-7 https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ToxProfiles/tp9-c1-b.pdf.

LinkOut - more resources