A single gastrointestinal endoscopy procedure can emit a whopping 38.45 kg carbon dioxide equivalent into the atmosphere, a study by the researchers at the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology (AIG) has found.
The study was conducted between 29 May and 10 June 2023 on 3,244 consecutive patients undergoing 3,873 procedures,
"Carbon emissions for various variables involved were calculated with specific emission factors using ‘The GHG Protocol,' researchers led by Hardik Rughwani said in the journal 'Gut.'
"Excluding patient travel, the emissions were 6.50 kg carbon dioxide equivalent per procedure," they wrote.
To compare, the carbon footprint of a kilogram of chicken is 6 kilogram of CO2 equivalent.
Of the various factors that contributed to the emissions in the study, patient travel contributed 83.09%, electricity consumption contributed 10.42%, medical gas transport and usage 3.63% and water consumption 1.86%.
The researchers said the study pointed to the importance of optimizing practices to reduce patient travel and repeat procedures, alongside improving electricity and water management for sustainable healthcare.
The researchers said that dagnostic procedures generate less waste and have a lower carbon footprint than therapeutic procedures.
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