OBJECTIVE: The present study was aimed at identifying the status of radiographic processing effluents management in radiodiagnosis centers in regard to handling, packaging, storage, treatment and disposal. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive-exploratory study was developed in the period from February to May 2009, with interviews based on a script including semistructured questions conducted in 12 radiodiagnosis centers of Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil, randomly selected by means of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 10.0. RESULTS: According to the respondents, untreated image-processing effluents discharge directly into the public sewage system occurs as follows: developer liquid by 16.66% of the healthcare centers; fixer by 8.33%; and film washing water by 75% of the centers. CONCLUSION: The present study results demonstrate the need for a closer surveillance, control and monitoring by the competent agencies, encouraging the pretreatment of such effluents in order to minimize their impact on public health and the environment.
Management; Effluents; Radiographic
