Medical imaging is a cornerstone of modern oncology, but it carries a heavy environmental price tag. While healthcare systems globally contribute up to 10 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, medical imaging alone is responsible for nearly 1 percent of the world’s total carbon footprint. Now, a new "Roadmap 2030" published in Radiology: Imaging Cancer is challenging the field to reconcile the life-saving necessity of cancer diagnostics with the urgent need for decarbonization.

"Most sustainability efforts in radiology focus primarily on energy usage," said Benjamin Northrup, MD, an associate professor at the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology. "But when it comes to oncologic imaging and cancer treatment, the range of considerations expands significantly." The roadmap argues that the current approach is too narrow, failing to account for the complex supply chains, hazardous waste, and energy-intensive equipment that define modern cancer centers.

The Vicious Cycle of Climate and Cancer

The relationship between climate change and oncology is a feedback loop. Environmental pollutants, often byproducts of the same fossil fuel combustion that drives climate change, are known drivers of skin and lung cancers. As cancer rates rise, the demand for high-resolution imaging and image-guided interventions increases, further straining the environment through energy consumption and toxic waste production.

Beyond electricity, the environmental impact of cancer care includes the incineration of chemotherapy agents, the release of iodine and gadolinium contrast agents into water supplies, and the massive volume of single-use plastics generated during interventional procedures. Currently, much of this impact remains unmeasured, leaving radiology departments without the benchmarks necessary to track meaningful progress.

Low-Hanging Fruit: Operational Efficiency

Not every sustainability goal requires a complete overhaul of medical technology. The Roadmap 2030 highlights several "easy wins" that practices can implement immediately. Kate Hanneman, MD, MPH, of the University of Toronto, points to the simple act of power management as a primary lever for change.

"Some of the easiest and biggest impact actions to improve sustainability are shutting down imaging equipment and computers overnight," Dr. Hanneman noted. By automating low-power modes between scans and powering down CT and MRI scanners during off-hours, hospitals can significantly reduce their baseline energy consumption without compromising patient care.

Beyond power management, the roadmap encourages the procurement of refurbished imaging equipment. This strategy offers a dual benefit: it lowers the carbon emissions associated with manufacturing new systems while simultaneously reducing capital expenditure for healthcare facilities.

The Path to 2030: Supply Chains and Policy

Long-term decarbonization will require more than just turning off lights. The roadmap calls for a fundamental shift in how radiology departments interact with vendors. This includes demanding imaging systems designed for longevity and modularity, as well as pushing for a reduction in the single-use plastics that currently dominate interventional suites.

What Experts Say

Experts in the field emphasize that sustainability is no longer an optional "green" initiative but a core component of future-proofing oncology care. The consensus among the roadmap’s authors is that medical education must integrate sustainability principles, ensuring that the next generation of radiologists views environmental impact as a metric of clinical quality. As policy shifts toward mandatory carbon reporting in healthcare, those who act now to establish data-driven benchmarks will be better positioned to meet regulatory requirements.

Key Takeaways

  • Medical imaging accounts for approximately 1 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, with significant impacts from energy use and hazardous waste.
  • The "Roadmap 2030" identifies simple operational changes, such as powering down scanners overnight, as high-impact, low-cost sustainability strategies.
  • Long-term progress requires collaboration with equipment vendors to extend the lifespan of hardware and reduce the reliance on single-use plastics in interventional oncology.

The next major milestone for the field will arrive in 2027, when the first wave of hospitals is expected to publish their baseline carbon audits for oncologic imaging. By then, the focus will shift from identifying "low-hanging fruit" to proving that these operational changes have successfully reduced the carbon intensity of patient care without impacting diagnostic accuracy.

This article is for informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any medical decisions.