Abstract
Modeling of a clinical lab carbon footprint is performed in this study from the aspects of electricity, water, gas consumption and waste production from lab instruments. These environmental impact indicators can be expressed in the form of the CO2 equivalent. For each type of clinical test, the corresponding consumption of energy resources and the production of plastics and papers are taken into consideration. In addition, the basic lab infrastructures such as heating, ventilation, air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, lights, and computers also contribute to the environmental impact. Human comfort is to be taken into account when optimizing the operation of lab instruments, and is related to the operation of HVAC and lighting systems. The detailed modeling takes into consideration the types of clinical tests, operating times, and instrument specifications. Two ways of disposing waste are classified. Moreover, the indoor environment is modeled. A case study of the Biochrom 30+ amino acid analyzer physiological system in Alder Hey Children’s Hospital is carried out, and the methods of mitigating the overall environmental impacts are discussed. Furthermore, the influence of climate on the results is investigated by using the climate data in Liverpool and Athens in October.
Highlights
Clinical laboratories are energy-intensive facilities, and each clinical laboratory can use three to six times more energy per unit surface area than a typical commercial building [1]
When the location of the clinical lab is taken into account, the local climate is a critical factor that influences the operation of the HVAC system, updating the electric power consumption profile2018, and11, changing the CO2 equivalent production from the clinical lab
The carbon footprint model of a clinical laboratory is established based on the CO2
Summary
Clinical laboratories are energy-intensive facilities, and each clinical laboratory can use three to six times more energy per unit surface area than a typical commercial building [1]. Only the guidelines and suggestions for mitigating the environmental impact were given, and no carbon footprint model of the clinical lab testing process was available. It was indicated in Reference [3] that blood testing is a crucial step in the diagnosis of various diseases, and the performance analysis of a university hospital blood laboratory was conducted by simulation. It is necessary to establish a unified model for expressing the carbon footprint produced by the clinical lab testing process. To implement the clinical lab tests, the indoor human comfort level should be first satisfied to provide a suitable environment for the staff in the laboratory.
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