Pollution control and suggested disposal guidelines for clinical chemistry laboratories.

Pollutants generated by clinical chemistry laboratories of two cities (Buffalo, N. V. and Rochester, N. V.) are described. A stepwise procedure is suggested on how to deal with the toxic liquid wastes from such laboratories. A brief guideline of chemical procedures for the decontamination of selected toxic elements and compounds is included. There is a long-standing question of whether or not clinical chemistry laboratories discharge harmful pollutants in considerable amounts, and, if so, whether or not this pollution can be decreased. Lack of specific data and scarcity of publications characterize this problem. In view of the lack of data, we felt that there was a need for a properly managed bench-level " survey " of the pollutants discharged by a group of clinical chemistry laboratories in a city. The results of such a survey should contribute to the development of a balanced view on this subject. In 1972, such an assessment was made in the Buffalo metropolitan area hospitals (Table 1) with the help of a questionnaire worked out by the Buffalo Sewer Authority in close cooperation with an engineering firm and local clinical chemists. It contained 20 questions: four referred to solid waste, 10 to different types of frequently occurring liquid wastes, and six to other pertinent information concerning the waste discharge (temperature, color, etc.). These questionnaires were sent out by the Buffalo Sewer Authority to all local hospitals, and were collected after six months. The data thus acquired can be presented in several ways. Because the quantity of waste is related to the size of the hospital, one possible approach is to relate