Assessing the Impact on Global Climate from General Anesthetic Gases
Abstract
Although present in the atmosphere with a combined concentration approximately 100,000 times lower than carbon dioxide (i.e., the principal anthropogenic driver of climate change), halogenated organic compounds are responsible for a warming effect of approximately 10% to 15% of the total anthropogenic radiative forcing of climate, as measured relative to the start of the industrial era (approximately 1750). The family of anesthetic gases includes several halogenated organic compounds that are strong greenhouse gases. In this short report, we provide an overview of the state of knowledge regarding the impact of anesthetic gas release on the environment, with particular focus on its contribution to the radiative forcing of climate change.
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Nitrous oxide contributes to depletion of the ozone layer.
“Chlorofluorocarbons as well as N2O (cf. above) contribute to ozone depletion in the stratosphere.10”
From A call for immediate climate action in anesthesiology: routine use of minimal or metabolic fresh gas flow reduces our ecological footprint (2023) · cites this paper as [10]
Inhalational anesthetics absorb mainly within the atmospheric window (8-14 μm) and act as greenhouse gases by altering infrared radiation back to space, favoring an increase in global temperature.
“Unfortunately, inhalational anesthetics absorb mainly within this atmospheric window. Hence, they act as GHGs and influence the Earth’s radiative balance by altering the IR radiation back to space. This favors the increase in global temperature.10”
From A call for immediate climate action in anesthesiology: routine use of minimal or metabolic fresh gas flow reduces our ecological footprint (2023) · cites this paper as [10]
Isoflurane contributes to ozone depletion in the stratosphere.
“In contrast, a compensatory increase of isoflurane consumption should be avoided as it contributes to ozone depletion in the stratosphere and, therefore, counterbalances the positive effect.10”
From A call for immediate climate action in anesthesiology: routine use of minimal or metabolic fresh gas flow reduces our ecological footprint (2023) · cites this paper as [10]
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References 15 · Cited by 230
- Authors
- Andersen, M. P. S., Nielsen, O. J., Wallington, T. J., Karpichev, B., & Sander, S. P.
- Affiliations
- University of Copenhagen (DK)
- University of Michigan (US)
- California Institute of Technology (US)
- Corresponding author
- Karpichev, Boris
- Sander, Stanley P.
- Venue
- Anesthesia & Analgesia
- Published
- 2012-05
- Volume
- 114
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 1081-1085
- ISSN
- 0003-2999 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2792519269
- Cited by
- 230
- References
- 15
- Citations by year
- 2026: 21 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 35 · 2023: 32 · 2022: 27 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 11
- FWCI
- 5.58
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Anesthesia & Analgesia (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Climate Change and Environmental Impact
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Engineering › Environmental Impact and Sustainability
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine › Anesthesia and Sedative Agents
- Keywords
- halogenated organic compounds, greenhouse gases, radiative forcing, climate change, anthropogenic emissions
- MeSH terms
- Air Pollution, Algorithms, Atmosphere, Hydrocarbons, Halogenated, Spectrophotometry, Infrared, Greenhouse Effect, Anesthetics, Inhalation, Climate Change, Global Warming
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