Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Colorectal Cancer Screening

Abstract

Climate change is the largest public health threat of the 21st century. Gastrointestinal endoscopy is the second overall waste generator and third highest hazardous waste generator in a hospital setting, making it essential for all gastroenterologists to reexamine their practices to reduce this negative impact. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major contributor to the gastrointestinal disease burden, and CRC screening is a vital component of age-appropriate cancer screening in the United States. Along the spectrum of colon cancer screening methods, considerations regarding their environmental impact are gaining prominence. Consequently, focusing mitigation strategies on CRC screening is justified. Mitigation strategies focused on CRC screening are likely to have a measurable impact on reducing the environmental impact of endoscopy, given the stark volume of procedures performed in the United States. In this paper, we review the different CRC screening options and strategies to reduce the environmental impact of these processes.