Refuse is as called as?

Appeared in: PGIMS Rohtak NO - 2017

Explanation

Refuse is a general term for solid waste materials generated from households, streets, and commercial establishments.
It encompasses both garbage (putrescible or decomposable food waste) and rubbish (non-putrescible or non-decomposable materials like paper, plastic, and glass).
Textbooks on community health nursing explicitly state that solid waste is commonly known as trash, garbage, refuse, or rubbish, making 'Solid waste' the correct synonym.

Option B: This is incorrect because refuse is, by definition, solid material. Liquid waste is a different category of waste based on its physical state.
Option C: This is incorrect. Sewage is a specific type of liquid waste that contains human excreta (feces and urine) and is transported through sewers.
Option D: This is incorrect. Sullage, also known as greywater, is domestic wastewater from kitchens, bathrooms, and laundries that does not contain human excreta.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Classification and Terminology of Waste as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a vital role in community health education, which includes teaching families about proper waste segregation (e.g., wet vs. dry waste) and disposal to prevent the spread of vector-borne diseases.
Improper disposal of refuse can create breeding grounds for flies, mosquitoes, and rodents, which act as vectors for diseases like cholera, typhoid, gastroenteritis, and plague.
Understanding waste classification helps in implementing appropriate infection control measures in both community and hospital settings.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core term in the question: 'Refuse'.
Recall the basic classification of waste into solid and liquid categories from your study of environmental sanitation.
Remember that 'refuse' is a standard term for discarded solid materials.
This directly points to 'Solid waste' as the correct answer.
Differentiate this from the other options: 'Liquid waste' is the wrong physical state. 'Sewage' and 'Sullage' are specific types of liquid waste, distinguished by the presence or absence of human excreta.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Q64XMofOGDSVdexoYzUd3P

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart B (pp 233-449 of 464) pp. 70-72, 78-80

E6 Comprehensive Textbook of Community Health NursingShyamala D part 1 (pp 26-389 of 389) p. 179-181

Practise the full PGIMS Rohtak NO - 2017

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.