Environmental sustainability in neurointerventional procedures: a waste audit

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1053-1057 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pey Ling Shum ◽  
Hong Kuan Kok ◽  
Julian Maingard ◽  
Mark Schembri ◽  
Ramon Martin Francisco Bañez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Waste Reduction ◽  
Waste Stream ◽  
Radiology Department ◽  
Tertiary Referral Center ◽  
Waste Segregation ◽  
Embolization Procedure ◽  
Neurointerventional Procedures ◽  
Aneurysm Coiling ◽  
Time Point

BackgroundOperating rooms contribute between 20% to 70% of hospital waste. This study aimed to evaluate the waste burden of neurointerventional procedures performed in a radiology department, identify areas for waste reduction, and motivate new greening initiatives.MethodsWe performed a waste audit of 17 neurointerventional procedures at a tertiary-referral center over a 3-month period. Waste was categorized into five streams: general waste, clinical waste, recyclable plastic, recyclable paper, and sharps. Our radiology department started recycling soft plastics from 13 December 2019. Hence, an additional recyclable soft plastic waste stream was added from this time point. The weight of each waste stream was measured using a digital weighing scale.ResultsWe measured the waste from seven cerebral digital subtraction angiograms (DSA), six mechanical thrombectomies (MT), two aneurysm-coiling procedures, one coiling with tumour embolization, and one dural arteriovenous fistula embolization procedure. In total, the 17 procedures generated 135.3 kg of waste: 85.5 kg (63.2%) clinical waste, 28.0 kg (20.7%) general waste, 14.7 kg (10.9%) recyclable paper, 3.5 kg (2.6%) recyclable plastic, 2.2 kg (1.6%) recyclable soft plastic, and 1.4 kg (1.0%) of sharps. An average of 8 kg of waste was generated per case. Coiling cases produced the greatest waste burden (13.1 kg), followed by embolization (10.3 kg), MT (8.8 kg), and DSA procedures (5.1 kg).ConclusionNeurointerventional procedures generate a substantial amount of waste, an average of 8 kg per case. Targeted initiatives such as engaging with suppliers to revise procedure packs and reduce packaging, digitizing paper instructions, opening devices only when necessary, implementing additional recycling programs, and appropriate waste segregation have the potential to reduce the environmental impact of our specialty.

scholarly journals The Role of Biosurfactants in the Continued Drive for Environmental Sustainability

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 4817 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ibukun Olasanmi ◽  
Ronald Thring
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Environmental Pollutants ◽  
Waste Reduction ◽  
Industry Research ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Low Toxicity ◽  
Microbial Products ◽  
Near Future

Biosurfactants are microbial products that have been increasingly researched due to their many identified advantages, such as low toxicity and high activity at extreme temperatures, but more importantly, they are biodegradable and compatible with the environment. Biosurfactants are versatile products with vast applications in the clean-up of environmental pollutants through biodegradation and bioremediation. They also have applications in the food, pharmaceutical, and other industries. These advantages and wide range of applications have led to the continued interest in biosurfactants. In particular, there is a growing discussion around environmental sustainability and the important role that biosurfactants will increasingly play in the near future, for example, via the use of renewable by-products as substrates, waste reduction, and potential reuse of the treated waste. This has resulted in increased attention on these microbial products in industry. Research highlighting the potential of biosurfactants in environmental sustainability is required to drive efforts to make biosurfactants more viable for commercial and large-scale applications; making them available, cheaper and economically sustainable. The present review discusses the unique relationship between biosurfactants and environmental sustainability, especially the role that biosurfactants play in the clean-up of environmental pollutants and, therefore, increasing environmental protection.

scholarly journals Monitoring Radiation Doses during Diagnostic and Therapeutic Neurointerventional Procedures: Multicenter Study for Establishment of Reference Levels

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yon-Kwon Ihn ◽  
Bum-soo Kim ◽  
Hae Woong Jeong ◽  
Sang Hyun Suh ◽  
Yoo Dong Won ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Angiography ◽  
Interventional Neuroradiology ◽  
Reference Level ◽  
Radiation Doses ◽  
Large Variability ◽  
Dose Area Product ◽  
Stroke Thrombolysis ◽  
Neurointerventional Procedures ◽  
Aneurysm Coiling ◽  
Significant Factors

Purpose: To assess patient radiation doses during diagnostic and therapeutic neurointerventional procedures from multiple centers and propose dose reference level (RL).Materials and Methods: Consecutive neurointerventional procedures, performed in 22 hospitals from December 2020 to June 2021, were retrospectively studied. We collected data from a sample of 429 diagnostic and 731 therapeutic procedures. Parameters including dose-area product (DAP), cumulative air kerma (CAK), fluoroscopic time (FT), and total number of image frames (NI) were obtained. RL were calculated as the 3rd quartiles of the distribution.Results: Analysis of 1160 procedures from 22 hospitals confirmed the large variability in patient dose for similar procedures. RLs in terms of DAP, CAK, FT, and NI were 101.6 Gy·cm<sup>2</sup>, 711.3 mGy, 13.3 minutes, and 637 frames for cerebral angiography, 199.9 Gy·cm<sup>2</sup>, 3,458.7 mGy, 57.3 minutes, and 1,000 frames for aneurysm coiling, 225.1 Gy·cm<sup>2</sup>, 1,590 mGy, 44.7 minutes, and 800 frames for stroke thrombolysis, 412.3 Gy·cm<sup>2</sup>, 4,447.8 mGy, 99.3 minutes, and 1,621.3 frames for arteriovenous malformation (AVM) embolization, respectively. For all procedures, the results were comparable to most of those already published. Statistical analysis showed male and presence of procedural complications were significant factors in aneurysmal coiling. Male, number of passages, and procedural combined technique were significant factors in stroke thrombolysis. In AVM embolization, a significantly higher radiation dose was found in the definitive endovascular cure group.Conclusion: Various RLs introduced in this study promote the optimization of patient doses in diagnostic and therapeutic interventional neuroradiology procedures. Proposed 3rd quartile DAP (Gy·cm<sup>2</sup>) values were 101.6 for diagnostic cerebral angiography, 199.9 for aneurysm coiling, 225.1 for stroke thrombolysis, and 412.3 for AVM embolization. Continual evolution of practices and technologies requires regular updates of RLs.

scholarly journals E-129 Environmental sustainability in neurointerventional procedures: a waste audit

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Shum ◽  
H Kok ◽  
J Maingard ◽  
M Schembri ◽  
M Banez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Neurointerventional Procedures

scholarly journals Social Responsibility of Economic Units and the Well-Being of Society in the Tourism Sector: Example of Accommodation Facility

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (19) ◽  
pp. 6270
Author(s):  
Julia Wojciechowska-Solis ◽  
Agata Kobyłka ◽  
Adam Gawryluk
Keyword(s):  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Aspect ◽  
Environmental Aspect ◽  
Ecological Awareness ◽  
Ordinary Light ◽  
Waste Segregation ◽  
Accommodation Sector ◽  
Business Entities

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) assumes that companies should justify their existence with services for various stakeholders and not with profit alone. There is a strong emphasis on the implications of CSR for managing human resources in hotels and other accommodation services, supporting local communities, and promoting environmental sustainability. This article aims to present the adjustment of business entities providing accommodation services in Poland to the CSR principles. Two aspects were examined: the environmental aspect, i.e., waste segregation and the use of economic energy receivers, while the social aspect included engaging employees, as well as investing in improving their qualifications towards pro-ecological awareness. The study was conducted on a sample of 207 owners and managers of economic entities in the accommodation sector in Poland. The Statistica software was used to analyze the obtained results, including Chi2 statistics and correspondence analysis. Based on the obtained results, it can be concluded that the employees of accommodation centers usually deal with the final segregation of waste because they believe that tourists do not follow the rules of proper segregation. Most hotels are equipped with bins for all fractions of waste. The affiliation of a center to a specific macroregion in Poland was not statistically significant in terms of waste segregation practices. Only in the southern macroregion of Poland, ordinary light bulbs are used in accommodation establishments, which account for 0.97% of the surveyed population. In other regions, ¾ establishments use energy-saving receivers in all rooms. Only 1/3 of the facilities invested in developing their staff by organizing training courses toward sustainable development. The most popular subjects were topics related to waste segregation, energy and water saving, and environmental protection.

TP6.2.26 Innovations Towards Achieving Environmentally Sustainable Operating Theatres: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen Perry ◽  
Nicola Reeves ◽  
Fiona Brennan ◽  
Daniel Morris ◽  
Jared Torkington ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Waste Reduction ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Environmentally Sustainable ◽  
Effective Interventions ◽  
Cochrane Database ◽  
Anaesthetic Gases ◽  
Operating Theatres ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Introduction The NHS accounts for 5.4% of the UK’s total carbon foot print, with the perioperative environment being the most resource hungry aspect of the hospital. The aim of this systematic review was to assimilate the published studies concerning the sustainability of the perioperative environment, focusing on the impact of implemented interventions. Methods A systematic review was performed using Pubmed, OVIC, Embase, Cochrane database of systematic reviews and Medline. Original manuscripts describing interventions aimed at improving operating theatre environmental sustainability were included. Results 648 abstracts were screened with 33 manuscripts included. Studies were divided into broad themes; recycling and waste management, waste reduction, reuse, reprocessing or life cycle analysis, energy and resource reduction and anaesthetic gases. This review summarises the interventions identified and their resulting effects on theatre sustainability. Discussion This systematic review has identified simple, yet highly effective interventions across a variety of themes that can lead to improved environmental sustainability of surgical operating theatres. Combining these interventions will likely result in a synergistic improvement to the environmental impact of surgery.

scholarly journals Environmental Sustainability Practices of Immigrant-Owned Small and Medium Enterprises in South Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (17) ◽  
pp. 27-43
Author(s):  
Olawale Fatoki
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Financial Performance ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Waste Reduction ◽  
Management Policy ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Level Of Education ◽  
Sustainability Practices ◽  
Medium Enterprises

AbstractEnvironmental sustainability of immigrant-owned small and medium enterprises (SMEs) is important to a country’s long-term sustainable development. The study investigated the environmental sustainability practices (ESP) of immigrant-owned SMEs. In addition, the study examined the effect of demographic factors (age, gender and level of education) on ESP. The study also investigated the relationship between ESP and financial performance of SMEs. Data was collected from one hundred and eighty two immigrant small business owners. The survey method (self-administered questionnaire) was used for data collection. The participants in the study were conveniently sampled. Descriptive statistics, T-test, Pearson correlation and regression analysis were used for data analysis. The results indicated that immigrant-owned SMEs are engaged in recycling, energy efficiency and reduction of waste and pollution. Their involvement in environmentally friendly products and environmental management policy is limited. Females exhibit higher levels of recycling, waste reduction energy efficiency and reduction of pollution. Age and level of education positively affect environmental sustainability practices. Waste reduction, energy efficiency and reduction of pollution have significant positive relationships with financial performance. Recommendations to improve EPS are suggested.

Identifying the links between consumer food waste, nutrition, and environmental sustainability: a narrative review

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zach Conrad ◽  
Nicole Tichenor Blackstone
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Food Waste ◽  
Diet Quality ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
The United States ◽  
Narrative Review ◽  
Waste Reduction ◽  
Reduction Strategies

Abstract Emerging research demonstrates unexpected relationships between food waste, nutrition, and environmental sustainability that should be considered when developing waste reduction strategies. In this narrative review, we synthesize these linkages and the evidence related to drivers of food waste and reduction strategies at the consumer level in the United States. Higher diet quality is associated with greater food waste, which results in significant quantities of wasted resources (e.g., energy, fertilizer) and greenhouse gas emissions. Food waste also represents waste of micronutrients that could otherwise theoretically fill nutritional gaps for millions of people. To make progress on these multiple fronts simultaneously, nutrition professionals must expand beyond their traditional purview, into more interdisciplinary arenas that make connections with food waste and environmental sustainability.

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