AN INVESTIGATION OF THE DISPOSAL OF DENTAL CLINICAL WASTE IN BANGKOK

This study investigated the disposal of clinical waste within dental s urgeries in Bangkok, Thailand and followed the waste trail to the rubb ish tips. A questionnaire was sent to all dental practices in the Bang kok Metropolitan Area. The response rate was 57.7 per cent. At the sam e time, rubbish collectors and scavengers were interviewed to see if t hey encountered clinical dental waste. Few dentists complied with all recommendations for the disposal of waste. Most waste was disposed of into the domestic rubbish stream. Rubbish collectors and scavengers kn ew what dental rubbish looked like and some had had needlestick injuri es. Although recommendations can be made to the dental profession to a lter their behaviour, real improvement is unlikely without changes to legislation and social policy.