Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of a U.S. Hospital-based Radiology Practice

Background Climate change, driven primarily by human-induced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, poses major risks to human health. Health care contributes 8.5% of GHG emissions in the United States. Purpose To estimate the life cycle environmental impact of diagnostic radiology services within a single academic medical center. Materials and Methods This process-based life cycle assessment (LCA) of a diagnostic radiology department serving adult inpatient, outpatient, and emergency department patients in a U.S. hospital followed International Organization for Standardization (ISO 14040:2006) guidelines. System components included production and distribution of imaging equipment; energy use of imaging equipment, including MRI, CT, radiography and fluoroscopy, and US; production and use of other capital equipment; production of single-use, semidurable, and durable supplies and linens; and production and energy use from onsite data storage. Meters monitored the power usage of selected imaging equipment during April 2023. Modeling assumed an equipment lifespan of 10 years. Results are reported in kilotons of CO₂ equivalent (kt CO₂e) emissions per scan and over a 10-year period. A sensitivity analysis assessed variability of data. Results Over a decade, these radiology services generated 4.6 kt CO₂e GHG emissions, with MRI responsible for 48% (2.2 of 4.6 kt CO₂e) and CT responsible for 24% (1.1 of 4.6 kt CO₂e) of cumulative emissions. Clinical use of imaging equipment (all modalities) accounted for 54% of departmental GHGs (2.5 of 4.6 kt CO₂e). Other notable contributions include the production of imaging equipment (11%, 0.49 of 4.6 kt CO₂e), the production and use of picture archiving and communication system workstations (11%, 0.48 of 4.6 kt CO₂e), and linens production and laundering (10%, 0.47 of 4.6 kt CO₂e). Conclusion Energy consumption from clinical use of imaging equipment accounted for more than 50% of departmental GHG emissions, with MRI and CT equipment as the major emitters. Other notable GHG contributors include the production of imaging equipment, the production and use of picture archiving and communication system workstations, and linens production and laundering. © RSNA, 2024 Supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Thrall in this issue.