The Hospitals Zubizarreta and Argerich Poured Chemicals to the Sewage System
<p style="text-align:justify">A report by the City Audit says the health center of Devoto discards formaldehyde, a highly combustible component and paraffin; while in the hospital of La Boca ether, ethyl, fuchsin, hydrochloric acid and is thrown ethanol; Therefore, breaking the law of hazardous waste. The personnel handling pathological waste have no protective elements.</p>
According to the Auditor General of the City of Buenos Aires (AGCBA, for its acronym in Spanish), some health centers in Buenos Aires violate law 2,214 on hazardous waste, they do not have differentiated deposits and other do not meet the necessary safety conditions. Even the Zubizarreta and Argerich hospitals discharge chemical waste into the sewage system.
The AGCBA explained that the Zubizarreta of Villa Devoto, throws "large quantities" of formaldehyde, a highly volatile and highly flammable component and paraffin is poured. Meanwhile, in the Acute Hospital Argerich neighborhood of La Boca, ether, ethyl, fucsina, hydrochloric acid, formaldehyde and etanal are thrown in the sewer.
The report, approved this year on data from the period 2007-2008, explains that these health centers "do not have exclusive deposits for hazardous liquid waste" and that the containers of these components "are not properly labeled" therefore, it is difficult to distinguish the content.
In fact, the City Audit maintains that in the Argerich and Zubizarreta intermediate deposits (prior to final disposal site) "do not meet the safety conditions established for the storage of hazardous liquids", such as "lack of ventilation and access not restricted".
In both hospitals, said the report, the staff that manipulates the pathogenic waste "does not have protection elements." Even in the Zubizarreta they are "unaware of the existence of manual management of this waste" and although it was asked by the inspection body, it could not see the information on "personnel training, examination certificates or required immunizations."
Moreover, the Children's Hospital Pedro Elizalde, "has no environmental aptitude certificate", although the watchdog said it "is in the process", like the one for the Argerich.
Finally, the AGCBA explained that the Hospital of Villa Devoto, the company that removes waste "has an expired contract since 2005," circuit collection "is not marked" and the "final deposit is not exclusive for pathogenic waste."