The health sector is a field that is essential to everyone. Overall human longevity can be attributed to the health sector. Many breakthroughs in AIDS, smallpox, ebola, diabetes, cancer, and even various strains of COVID-19 has been initiated in the health sector. This section will focus on different impacts different aspects of the health sector have on our health. While it is imperative that we have a strong and effective health care system, there are many obstacles to development including ethics, environmental impacts, and more. The articles on these topics are not limited to those that have been listed.
The Health Sector's Carbon Footprint:
Well let me start of with a staggering fact: if the U.S. healthcare system were a country, it would rank 13th in the world for greenhouse gas emissions (Yale News). Within the U.S. the health sector contributes to 8% of the nation's greenhouse gases. This may not seem like a lot, but this 8% literally means many tons of greenhouse gases. What are some of the sources of the health sector's huge carbon footprint? Much of health machinery (such as MRIs and CT-scans) take huge amounts of energy to maintain and contribute directly to our carbon footprint. Isn't there also another obvious source? Hospitals, medical buildings, and laboratories all release tons of carbon from merely their general operations.
Credible articles on the health sector and the carbon footprint:
Yale School of the Environment
The Hill
NIH
Mental Health and Nature
The world is a complex and happening place where it can be easy to get lost. It is common for the changes around us to impact our mental health, cause stress, anxiety, and even depression. Many studies have already shown that the "environment" around us impacts our mental health. Our mental health around us can be influenced by the solace in nature, the awe of terrestrial biodiversity, and merely the thought of being in the midst of nature. Advocating for our planet could lead to the availability of more greenspaces, national parks, forests, and other natural geographic communities. Our health and the environment are deeply intertwined in so many ways; there are only benefits to protecting our environment.
For further reading:
APA
Yale School of the Environment
Medical/Biomedical Waste:
Biomedical or medical waste is another major problem for the health industry. Much research that goes into finding cures and researching unknown issues involves a waste of resources. Medical waste often involves chemicals, toxins, and particles with radiation that can be dangerous. These forms of waste often cannot be disposed in landfills and therefore have their own disposal process. They also often pollute our own airs with chemicals making it harder to breathe and an overall unhealthy environment. Medical waste is a problem in the health sector that has often been disputed but not just for environmental purposes.
Credible sources on medical waste:
EPA
DEQ
Daniel Sheath (Important article for connection between medical waste and the environment)
Medicinal Research and Testing
A highly contested topic regarding the health sector is research. Research is driven to learn more and delve deeper into foundational knowledge. However, this can often culminate in scientific trials and experiments on animals, plants, and even potentially people. There are multiple viewpoints on the ethics of such research and testing. Some view that for the greater good of biological innovation such testing is appropriate. Others, however, may believe that such testing is detrimental as it allows for the growth of innovation at the expense of other living creatures. From the standpoint of an environmentalist, medicinal research and testing is beneficial but should be implemented sustainability. For example, if such testing endangers keystone species or has the potential to alter ecosystems, efforts to advocate for alternative methods of research may be viable. The health sector has many highly contested issues, use the resources below to see which side of the issue you would rather take.
Credible sources on medicinal research and testing:
NIH (1)
NIH (2)
Stanford
Conclusion:
The health sector is essential to our daily lives. However, we should advocate for more sustainable methods and practices within the health sector. There are numerous hygienic reasons for much medical waste. For example, when you go to your primary care physician the seat you lie down on has a thin sheet of paper; when your appointment is finished that sheet is thrown away and replaced. This is just one example of the many forms of medical waste. The only way to reduce the health sector's carbon footprint is by new innovative implementations. This could be as simple as replacing the regular bulbs with LEDs. As the health sector is so critical to us as human beings there are numerous restrictions for sustainable progress. Still, it is not impossible for even the most subtle reforms in the health sector.
The Health Sector's Carbon Footprint:
Well let me start of with a staggering fact: if the U.S. healthcare system were a country, it would rank 13th in the world for greenhouse gas emissions (Yale News). Within the U.S. the health sector contributes to 8% of the nation's greenhouse gases. This may not seem like a lot, but this 8% literally means many tons of greenhouse gases. What are some of the sources of the health sector's huge carbon footprint? Much of health machinery (such as MRIs and CT-scans) take huge amounts of energy to maintain and contribute directly to our carbon footprint. Isn't there also another obvious source? Hospitals, medical buildings, and laboratories all release tons of carbon from merely their general operations.
Credible articles on the health sector and the carbon footprint:
Yale School of the Environment
The Hill
NIH
Mental Health and Nature
The world is a complex and happening place where it can be easy to get lost. It is common for the changes around us to impact our mental health, cause stress, anxiety, and even depression. Many studies have already shown that the "environment" around us impacts our mental health. Our mental health around us can be influenced by the solace in nature, the awe of terrestrial biodiversity, and merely the thought of being in the midst of nature. Advocating for our planet could lead to the availability of more greenspaces, national parks, forests, and other natural geographic communities. Our health and the environment are deeply intertwined in so many ways; there are only benefits to protecting our environment.
For further reading:
APA
Yale School of the Environment
Medical/Biomedical Waste:
Biomedical or medical waste is another major problem for the health industry. Much research that goes into finding cures and researching unknown issues involves a waste of resources. Medical waste often involves chemicals, toxins, and particles with radiation that can be dangerous. These forms of waste often cannot be disposed in landfills and therefore have their own disposal process. They also often pollute our own airs with chemicals making it harder to breathe and an overall unhealthy environment. Medical waste is a problem in the health sector that has often been disputed but not just for environmental purposes.
Credible sources on medical waste:
EPA
DEQ
Daniel Sheath (Important article for connection between medical waste and the environment)
Medicinal Research and Testing
A highly contested topic regarding the health sector is research. Research is driven to learn more and delve deeper into foundational knowledge. However, this can often culminate in scientific trials and experiments on animals, plants, and even potentially people. There are multiple viewpoints on the ethics of such research and testing. Some view that for the greater good of biological innovation such testing is appropriate. Others, however, may believe that such testing is detrimental as it allows for the growth of innovation at the expense of other living creatures. From the standpoint of an environmentalist, medicinal research and testing is beneficial but should be implemented sustainability. For example, if such testing endangers keystone species or has the potential to alter ecosystems, efforts to advocate for alternative methods of research may be viable. The health sector has many highly contested issues, use the resources below to see which side of the issue you would rather take.
Credible sources on medicinal research and testing:
NIH (1)
NIH (2)
Stanford
Conclusion:
The health sector is essential to our daily lives. However, we should advocate for more sustainable methods and practices within the health sector. There are numerous hygienic reasons for much medical waste. For example, when you go to your primary care physician the seat you lie down on has a thin sheet of paper; when your appointment is finished that sheet is thrown away and replaced. This is just one example of the many forms of medical waste. The only way to reduce the health sector's carbon footprint is by new innovative implementations. This could be as simple as replacing the regular bulbs with LEDs. As the health sector is so critical to us as human beings there are numerous restrictions for sustainable progress. Still, it is not impossible for even the most subtle reforms in the health sector.
