What constitutes pathological waste?

Pathological waste is specifically defined as human or animal tissues, organs, and body parts that are removed during medical procedures, autopsies, or surgeries. This type of waste is classified as biomedical waste and requires careful handling and disposal due to its potential to carry infectious agents or pose significant health risks if not managed properly.

Understanding the nature of pathological waste is crucial for health care facilities to comply with waste management regulations and to safeguard public health. Proper disposal methods, such as incineration, are often employed to ensure that the waste does not pose a risk of contamination or disease transmission.

In contrast, the other options relate to various aspects of medical waste management but do not fit the definition of pathological waste. Needles and sharp objects represent sharps waste, while plastic waste refers to non-hazardous materials that can often be recycled. Chemical waste includes harmful substances from laboratories but is categorized separately from pathological waste.