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DOI	10.1007/s10103-024-04081-4
	Carbon footprint of a laser unit: a study of two centres in the UK
	Maheshwari, Kavish; Epanomeritakis, Ilias Ektor; Hills, Samantha; Hindocha, Sandip
发表日期	2024
ISSN	0268-8921
EISSN	1435-604X
起始页码	39
结束页码	1
卷号	39 期号:1
英文摘要	PurposeClimate change has serious consequences for our wellbeing. Healthcare systems themselves contribute significantly to our total carbon footprint, of which emissions from surgical practice are a major component. The primary sources of emissions identified are anaesthetic gases, disposal of single-use equipment, energy usage, and travel to and from clinical areas. We sought to quantify the waste generated by laser surgery which, to our knowledge, has not been previously reported.MethodsThe carbon footprint of two laser centres operating within the United Kingdom were measured. The internationally recognised Greenhouse Gas Protocol was used as a guiding framework to classify sources of waste and conversion factors issued by the UK government were used to quantify emissions.ResultsThe total carbon footprints per day at each unit were 299.181 carbon dioxide equivalents (kgCo2eq) and 121.512 kgCO2eq, respectively. We found the carbon footprint of individual laser treatments to be approximately 15 kgCO2eq per procedure. The biggest overall contributor to the carbon footprint was found to be the emissions generated from staff, patient and visitor travel. This was followed by electricity usage, and indirect emissions from physical waste and laundry.ConclusionsThe carbon footprint of laser procedures was considerably less than the average surgical operation in the UK. This initial study measures the carbon footprint of a laser center in a clinical setting and allows us to identify where improvements can be made to eventually achieve a net carbon zero health care system.
英文关键词	Laser surgery; Plastic surgery; Greenhouse gas emissions; Carbon footprint; Green healthcare
语种	英语
WOS研究方向	Engineering ; Surgery
WOS类目	Engineering, Biomedical ; Surgery
WOS记录号	WOS:001228898300002
来源期刊	LASERS IN MEDICAL SCIENCE
文献类型	期刊论文
条目标识符	http://gcip.llas.ac.cn/handle/2XKMVOVA/298545
推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714	Maheshwari, Kavish,Epanomeritakis, Ilias Ektor,Hills, Samantha,et al. Carbon footprint of a laser unit: a study of two centres in the UK[J],2024,39(1).
APA	Maheshwari, Kavish,Epanomeritakis, Ilias Ektor,Hills, Samantha,&Hindocha, Sandip.(2024).Carbon footprint of a laser unit: a study of two centres in the UK.LASERS IN MEDICAL SCIENCE,39(1).
MLA	Maheshwari, Kavish,et al."Carbon footprint of a laser unit: a study of two centres in the UK".LASERS IN MEDICAL SCIENCE 39.1(2024).