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The U.S. health care sector is highly interconnected with industrial activities that emit much of the nation’s pollution to air, water, and soils. We estimate emissions directly and indirectly attributable to the health care sector, and potential harmful effects on public health. Negative environmental and public health outcomes were estimated through economic input-output life cycle assessment (EIOLCA) modeling using National Health Expenditures (NHE) for the decade 2003–2013 and compared to national totals. In 2013, the health care sector was also responsible for significant fractions of national air pollution emissions and impacts, including acid rain (12%), greenhouse gas emissions (10%), smog formation (10%) criteria air pollutants (9%), stratospheric ozone depletion (1%), and carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic air toxics (1–2%). The largest contributors to impacts are discussed from both the supply side (EIOLCA economic sectors) and demand side (NHE categories), as are trends over the study period. Health damages from these pollutants are estimated at 470,000 DALYs lost from pollution-related disease, or 405,000 DALYs when adjusted for recent shifts in power generation sector emissions. These indirect health burdens are commensurate with the 44,000–98,000 people who die in hospitals each year in the U.S. as a result of preventable medical errors, but are currently not attributed to our health system. Concerted efforts to improve environmental performance of health care could reduce expenditures directly through waste reduction and energy savings, and indirectly through reducing pollution burden on public health, and ought to be included in efforts to improve health care quality and safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. To quantify the increased disease burden caused by US health care sector life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of 614 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents in 2013. Methods. We screened for health damage factors that linked GHG emissions to disease burdens. We selected 5 factors, based on appropriate temporal modeling scales, which reflect a range of possible GHG emissions scenarios. We applied these factors to health care sector emissions. Results. We projected that annual GHG emissions associated with health care in the United States would cause 123 000 to 381 000 disability-adjusted life-years in future health damages, with malnutrition being the largest damage category. Conclusions. Through their contribution to global climate change, GHG emissions will negatively affect public health because of an increased prevalence of extreme weather, flooding, vector-borne disease, and other effects. As the stewards of global health, it is important for health care professionals to recognize the magnitude of GHG emissions associated with health care itself, and the severity of associated health damages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the relationship between the environment and medical practice. How the global environment is declining and will affect human life and health; Attempts of Health Care Without Harm to reduce the amount of waste generated in health care practice; Suggestion that there is a need to balance between environmental concerns and a commitment to patient care.

The article focuses on the connection between the healthcare industry and the environment. It stresses that with quality health care means less environmental impact from water usage, transportation, electricity, paper wastes and diagnostic machines. It cites the difference of the healthcare industry in Cuba and in the U.S., in which Cubans accomplish quality health care with few natural resources. The author adds that it is important to design an economy that moves towards environmental sanity.

The article reflects the opinion of the author on the significance of public health ethics in the prevention of diseases that were brought about by environment changes. According to the author, public health must be redefined ecologically in a way that life-support environment significant for human survival is shielded. He noted that sufficient health services must be equally distributed to the people yet must not be maximized but only be brought up to a level sufficient for good life.