What are the potential risks of improper health care waste management?

The potential risks of improper health care waste management primarily encompass infection transmission, environmental pollution, and injury to waste handlers.

Improper handling of health care waste can lead to infection transmission through the presence of pathogens found in infectious waste. Health care settings, where waste may contain contaminated materials, pose a risk to patients, health care workers, and the public if waste is not managed correctly.

Environmental pollution can result when harmful substances from health care waste, such as chemicals or pharmaceuticals, are not disposed of properly. These materials can contaminate soil, water, and air, leading to broader ecological harm.

Moreover, waste handlers—those responsible for collecting, transporting, and treating health care waste—face risks of injury or exposure to hazardous materials. This risk emphasizes the importance of proper training and protective measures for those handling such waste streams.

The other options focus on factors that do not align with the fundamental risks posed by improper waste management or suggest positive outcomes that are not applicable in the context of risks associated with mismanagement.