A DATABASE OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS WITHIN HEALTHCARE

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Read snapshots of the latest research exploring healthcare's environmental impacts.

View summaries of new studies as they are added to the HealthcareLCA database. For a complete summary of each data source and to see reported environmental impact values for studied products and activities, explore the HealthcareLCA Database.

The carbon footprint of gastrointestinal endoscopy in France

Jono Drew • May 8, 2023

Background and study aims: Endoscopy is considered the third highest generator of waste within healthcare. This is of public importance as approximately 18 million endoscopy procedures are performed yearly in the United States and 2 million in France. However, a precise measure of the carbon footprint of gastrointestinal endoscopy (GIE) is...

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The carbon footprint of single-use endoscopy instruments in Spain

Jono Drew • Apr 27, 2023

GI endoscopy units represent the third largest producers of medical waste. We aimed to determine endoscopic instrument composition and life cycle assessment (LCA) and to assess a sustainability proposal based on a mark on the instruments that identifies parts can be safely recycled or ‘green mark’. Material composition analysis and LCA of...

The carbon footprint of laparoscopic and robotic radical prostatectomy in Italy

Jono Drew • Apr 21, 2023

More than 4% of the global greenhouse gas emissions are generated by healthcare system. Focusing on the environmental impact of minimally invasive surgery, we assessed and compared the CO emissions between Robot-assisted (RALP) and Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy (LRP). In patients prospectively enrolled, we evaluated the age, surgical and...

The environmental impact of single-use and reusable flexible bronchoscopes for tracheal intubation in France

Jono Drew • Apr 12, 2023

Reusable flexible bronchoscopes have historically been used for difficult tracheal intubation in the operating theatre, but the use of single-use bronchoscopes is on the rise. Single-use bronchoscopes are assumed to reduce the risks of cross-contamination1 and reduce hospital costs. However, their technical reliability for difficult tracheal...

The environmental impact of reusable and single-use incontinence underpads in the United States

Jono Drew • Mar 30, 2023

Objectives of quality principles in the clinical setting present nursing with opportunities for quality patient care but at lower environmental footprint. This affects patients, hospital personnel, and community because choices reduce climate change and thus support an innovative nursing role. This article aims to support nursing knowledge to...

The climate impact of phacoemulsification cataract surgery in Spain

Jono Drew • Mar 22, 2023

Climate change is one of the most important threats to human health nowadays. The healthcare industry produces a significant part of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. The aim of this study is to assess direct and indirect GHG emissions due to cataract surgery in Spain to identify opportunities for improving. This observational case series study...

The carbon footprint of Shefaa Al-Orman Hospital in Luxor, Egypt

Jono Drew • Mar 1, 2023

Climate change confronts the health care sector with a dual challenge. Carbon footprint is defined as the total greenhouse gases resulting from industrial, service, or personal emissions, and its measurement is to reduce the negative effects of those emissions. Hospitals account for 3% of US greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions with 54% derived from...

The environmental impact of sterile and non-sterile hospital gowns in Spain

Jono Drew • Feb 23, 2023

Hospitals generate huge amounts of nonwoven residues daily. This paper focused on studying the evolution of nonwoven waste generated in the Francesc de Borja Hospital, Spain, over the last few years and its relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. The main objective was to identify the most impacting pieces of nonwoven equipment in the hospital and to...