In addition to accounting for 8.5% of US greenhouse gas emissions, healthcare in this country produces enormous quantities of waste. In most major cities, the single biggest waste producer is its largest hospital, and at least 25% of hospital waste is plastics.
Discussed will be the ubiquity of plastics in the environment, and the proliferation of plastics, and plastic waste, in healthcare.
A summary of the clinical implications of microplastics and nanoplastics in the human body will be presented, followed by suggestions of how clinicians can alter practice to decrease plastic waste without harming the quality of care.
This will be the first of series of CHN presentations on healthcare sustainability.
Please feel free to spread the word - any member of the California health community is invited to join.