Policy concept applied to X-ray waste management in Thailand

In Thailand, 98.5% of the imported X-ray films are used for medical services. After the developing process, approximately 55-65% of metallic silver still remains on the developed X-ray films. The used films are practically kept at the hospitals for record-keeping purposes for 5-10 years, while the developing agents are reused at minimal twice. The discarded films and the spent (fixer) solution are normally sold to waste dealers prior to their delivery to waste processors for silver recovery. To recover silver, typically, the used films are chemically leached; the spent solution is processed by electrolysis technique. Nevertheless, the recovery processes also generate toxic chemical wastes, which are commonly spilled or discharged into the environment without any proper treatment and disposal. The dealers for X-ray waste are one of the major stakeholders who are apparently exempted from state control and regulations; but, depending on its size and capacity, the processors must have a factory-operating permit. It appeared that the key regulators of X-ray waste are the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Public Health. In this study, the monitoring and tracking of silver-contaminated wastes were strictly carried out from the generation points to their ultimate disposals. A fact sheet of the management of X-ray waste has been proposed. (orig.)