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NATION IN BRIEF : NATIONWIDE : EPA Seeking Sharp Medical Waste Curbs

From Times Staff and Wire Reports

The Environmental Protection Agency proposed dramatic reductions in the emission levels allowed from medical waste incinerators across the United States. The rules, which will apply to incinerators in nearly every U.S. city, are aimed at limiting the adverse health effects of pollution from the burning of needles, gauges and other refuse from hospitals, laboratories and physicians’ offices. The rules call for a sharp reduction in the output of nine air pollutants commonly released from medical waste incinerators, including dioxin, lead, mercury and cadmium.

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