Which waste is contaminated with chemotherapy drugs and typically incinerated and segregated in specialized purple-lidded containers?

• A. Cytotoxic waste
• B. Pathological waste
• C. Sharps
• D. General medical waste

Answer: (A)

Chemotherapy drugs are cytotoxic, so any waste contaminated with those drugs is classified as cytotoxic waste. This type of waste is treated as hazardous medical waste and requires strict containment, typically in purple-lidded, leak-proof containers to prevent exposure. The standard disposal method for cytotoxic waste is incineration at high temperatures, which destroys the cytotoxic agents and protects people and the environment from contamination. Pathological waste refers to tissues or body parts and follows a different disposal pathway; sharps require puncture-resistant containers and their own handling procedures; general medical waste is nonhazardous and can often be disposed of with regular waste.