한국의 의료폐기물 발생 및 처리의 공간적 분포에 관한 연구

Abstract

Objectives: In Korea, the system of management of medical waste largely relies on the incineration method. Ourstudy aimed to identify any regional imbalances between the generation and treatment of medical waste, andprovide reference data for future policy in Korea. Methods: We analyzed data on the amount of medical waste from 2,000 hospitals in 2012, 2013, and 2014obtained from the Korea Environment Corporation. In the Arc GIS program (version 10.2.3), the addresses ofhospitals and incinerators were transformed into map coordinates. The amount of waste generated by eachhospital and the amount incinerated were represented by density and size of a triangle symbol, respectively. Results: As of 2014, the total amount of medical waste from the top 2,000 hospitals was 136,073 tons, out ofwhich about half (49%) was generated in the capital area. Eleven incineration companies (three in the capital area, two in the Chungcheong Provinces area, one in the Jeolla Provinces area, and five in the GyeongsangProvinces area) treated this waste. For the years 2012, 2013, and 2014, about 60% of the medical wastegenerated from the hospitals in the capital area was treated within the capital area and about 40% was transportedto other areas, especially the Gyeongsang Provinces area, for treatment. On the other hand, about 90% of themedical waste incinerated in the capital area originated from the capital area. Conclusion: Our results suggest a spatial imbalance between the generation and treatment of medical waste inKorea and warrants multilateral policies, including the expansion of on-site treatment, strengthening regulationof the containment of medical wastes, promoting reductions in medical waste and more.