Carbon footprint of dermatologic surgery

Healthcare is a potent emitter of greenhouse gases amounting up to 7% of total estimated greenhouse gas emissions (CO₂ e) for Australia. Australia has one of the highest incidences of skin cancer in the world but there is a paucity of data on the ecological impact of skin cancer excision/dermatologic surgery. The authors reviewed the various impact inventories in order to perform a life cycle assessment of skin cancer excision. A total of 8641 tonnes of estimated CO₂ e are produced from dermatologic surgery annually in Australia (6751 tonnes from private clinical rooms and 1890 tonnes from hospitals) and the waste generated contributes significantly to terrestrial ecotoxicity and acidification of land and water. Various means can be carried out to reduce this impact, ranging from simple behavioural changes to larger, policy changes.