ABSTRACT
Virtually all of the approximately 6600 hospitals in the United States house x-ray equipment, laboratories, kitchens, pharmacies, and waste disposal stations. More than half also have diagnostic radioisotope facilities, CT scanners, and ultrasound equipment. The environmental impact of the waste is considerable. All of these substances are subject either to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and/or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rules and regulations on the environment and worker exposure (see Chapter 2). OSHA has numerous regulations pertaining specifically to workers in health care settings.
