Abstract
PurposeTo estimate the carbon footprint of a single intravitreal injection in a hospital-based intravitreal service.MethodsGreenhouse gas emissions attributable to the delivery of an intravitreal injection were calculated using a hybrid lifecycle analysis technique. Data were collected regarding procurement of materials, patient travel, and building energy use.ResultsCarbon emissions associated with a single intravitreal injection, excluding the anti-VEGF agent, were 13.68 kg COeq. This equates to 82,100 kg COeq annually for our service. Patient travel accounted for the majority of emissions at 77%, with procurement accounting 19% for and building energy usage for 4% of total emissions. The omission of items considered dispensable from injection packs would reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 0.56 kg per injection – an annual saving of 3,360 kg COeq for our service. Similar savings, if extrapolated to a country the size of the United Kingdom, could yield annual carbon savings of 450,000 kg COeq. For context, a single one-way economy transatlantic flight produces 480 kg COeq per person.ConclusionWasteful practice in healthcare increases greenhouse gas production and drives climate change. The healthcare sector should be a leader in sustainable practice promotion and changes to high volume procedures have the largest impact on emissions. Long-acting agents offer the greatest future potential for meaningful reductions.
Highlights
The main advantage of this methodology is that it provides a more comprehensive analysis than other techniques.[22, 23]. It helps to reduce the impact of truncation error, which can be caused by the boundary placement required in PAS 2050 adhering lifecycle analysis (LCA)
Discussion around the importance of sustainability in ophthalmology has increased over the past decade.[26, 27]
This is the first study to estimate the carbon emissions attributable to intravitreal injections. This intervention has rapidly become the most common invasive procedure performed in ophthalmology.[28]
Summary
Climate change is a serious global threat and the healthcare industry is a large net contributor. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) states that this change is highly likely (>95% probability) to be attributable to human activity and this is supported by multiple studies with the wider.
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