Final answer:
Hospitals and healthcare facilities generate almost 2 million tons of hazardous medical waste annually, which must be managed properly to prevent health and environmental risks.
Step-by-step explanation:
The hazardous medical waste hospitals, medical offices, and other health care facilities generate annually is almost 2 million tons. This estimation recognizes the significant volume of waste produced as a byproduct of healthcare activities and underlines the importance of effective management and disposal of such materials to mitigate health and environmental risks.
Hazardous medical waste includes a variety of materials, such as used needles, discarded surgical instruments, and contaminated protective gear, which, due to their potentially infectious or toxic nature, pose a substantial hazard to human health and the environment if not properly treated, stored, and disposed of. The management and regulation of this waste are typically overseen by environmental agencies, like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to prevent improper handling that could contribute to increased morbidity, mortality, or have a detrimental impact on the environment.