Steps Toward Environmental Sustainability in Interventional Radiology.

Abstract

Environmental degradation and climate change pose an increasingly serious threat to global health, necessitating urgent action to implement environmentally sustainable healthcare practices. Interventional radiology (IR) is a resource-intensive specialty that has not historically emphasized environmental sustainability. This review aims to examine the environmental impact of IR and highlight opportunities for transitioning to more sustainable practices within the IR suite. The environmental impact of IR is assessed in 3 critical domains: (1) energy consumption, (2) waste production, and (3) water pollution. For each domain, actionable strategies are proposed to mitigate environmental harm. Key actions include powering down equipment when not in use, utilizing energysaving modes, minimizing the reliance on single-use items where possible, collaborating with industry to reduce excessive packaging, and implementing recycling programs for waste and iodinated contrast media, along with incorporating environmental sustainability as a quality metric in the departments quality improvement program. Barriers to adopting environmentally sustainable changes include a lack of awareness, financial considerations, and the absence of government, institutional, and industry regulations. Leadership from professional societies and collaboration with industry partners will be essential for driving systemic change. However, individual departments can take action to foster a culture of environmental responsibility and implement sustainable practices.