Did you know that some of the gases used in anesthesia are strong greenhouse gases? A few years ago, Seattle Children’s Hospital analyzed its carbon footprint and found that the gases used in anesthesia made up about 7% of the hospital’s total emissions, right behind emissions from heating and power and those from commuting.
Faced with this problem, Dr. Elizabeth Hansen, a pediatric anesthesiologist at Seattle Children’s, took matters into her own hands and slashed the operating room’s emissions. She now helps other hospitals do the same with Project Spruce.
Guest host Anna Rothschild talks with Dr. Hansen about how and why she took on the problem.
Further Reading
- Read coverage of how hospitals are confronting health care’s carbon footprint via Harvard Medicine Magazine.
- Read more stories of climate solutions via Science Friday’s “Degrees of Change.”
Segment Guests
Elizabeth Hansen
Dr. Elizabeth Hansen is a pediatric anesthesiologist at Seattle Children’s Hospital in Seattle, Washington.
Segment Transcript
The transcript of this segment is being processed. It will be available within one week after the show airs.
Meet the Producers and Host
About Rasha Aridi
@RashaAridiRasha Aridi is a producer for Science Friday. She loves stories about weird critters, science adventures, and the intersection of science and history.