SYRINGES: As I am on a mission to cut... - Pernicious Anaemi...

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SYRINGES

Vonni7 profile image
16 Replies

As I am on a mission to cut down on plastic I was wondering if it is possible to reuse the plastic syringes? by sterilising them in some way perhaps?

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Vonni7 profile image
Vonni7
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16 Replies
EllieMayNot profile image
EllieMayNot

While I do applaud your being environmentally conscientious (we could all do a better job, right?), it is nearly impossible to properly sterilize a hypodermic syringe/needle in your own home and, quite frankly, the risk to your health is far too great if you do not perform the sterilization and/or subsequent storage process properly. Like you, I hate the idea of adding more plastic to the land but I hate the idea of life threatening sepsis even more.

wedgewood profile image
wedgewood in reply toEllieMayNot

I’m 100% in agreement with EllieMayNot .

Vonni7 profile image
Vonni7 in reply towedgewood

Thank you for your replies but i am only talking about the syringe - no needle involved!

Vonni7 profile image
Vonni7 in reply toEllieMayNot

Thank you for your reply but I am only talking about the syringe - no needle involved!

EllieMayNot profile image
EllieMayNot in reply toVonni7

Same concerns apply.

EllieMayNot profile image
EllieMayNot in reply toEllieMayNot

One major problem with plastic is that it is even more difficult to sanitize than metal or glass. The risks of contamination and potential blood poisoning are very great and unless you had medical grade laboratory equipment and proper training, the potential for infection is far too high.

Vonni7 profile image
Vonni7 in reply toEllieMayNot

thank you so much for this! having had sepsis last year I certainly don't want to run the risk of getting it again. I'll do my plastic thing in other ways!

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan in reply toVonni7

Yes it's the sort of plastic manufactures should be working on.

Ritchie1268 profile image
Ritchie1268

I thought about this as I recently bought 100 Luer Lock 1mil syringes on sale for £18, normally close to £40. This type were the only type I could find that fit my auto Injector perfectly.

The quality is so much better than the other ones I used before, they almost look like glass. I did think about sticking one in my ultrasonic cleaning tank, but as others have said, I quickly had second thoughts & dismissed the idea due to risk of infection etc as you can never be too careful.

deniseinmilden profile image
deniseinmilden

No! 😬

Cetus profile image
Cetus

Vonni7 It's not exactly what you asked but you can buy disposable syringes made from recycled plastic. I have some "BD Emerald" syringes which are like this.

Vonni7 profile image
Vonni7 in reply toCetus

thank you Cetus! that's good to know - it all helps!

StaffsLass profile image
StaffsLass in reply toCetus

Hi Cetus, can you tell me where you bought these from please?

Thanks.

TheTanya profile image
TheTanya

Anything hot enough to sterilize the metal needle will melt the plastic and give off toxic fumes. You might ask your pharmacist for options where you replace only the needle- it's more complicated and expensive, but maybe worth it to you?

Vonni7 profile image
Vonni7

Thanks for that TheTanya!

StaffsLass profile image
StaffsLass

I sometimes despair at the amount of "landfill plastic" the drug manufacturers get away with.

I'm asthmatic & whilst the metal in my inhalers is recyclable, the plastic case isn't.

The little brown medication bottles aren't recyclable, I could go on.....

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