Dental Public Health, NHS Fife, Cameron Hospital, Windygates KY8 5RG, UK.
Public Health. 2012 Sep;126(9):770-7. doi: 10.1016/j.puhe.2012.05.032. Epub 2012 Aug 15.
Climate change is a significant global health threat requiring concerted action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This study provides the first systematic attempt to quantify the carbon emissions of a national dental service.
Carbon accounting combined a top-down approach using input-output analysis for indirect emissions (procurement) and a process analysis (bottom-up) approach for direct emissions (building energy, travel, waste and water). Energy and water consumption were based on meter readings, waste-related emissions from collection contracts and travel from staff and patient questionnaires. Dental companies were approached for carbon footprint data on their products.
The carbon footprint for the service was 1798.9 tonnes CO(2)eq per annum. Travel was the greatest source (45.1%) followed by procurement (35.9%) and building energy (18.3%). Perhaps counter-intuitively older clinics had lower footprints than newer clinics as they are less energy intensive. Extrapolating the data suggests that Scotland's NHS dental service annually generates 0.16 mega tonne (Mt)CO(2)eq (4%) of the total Scottish NHS carbon footprint.
The lack of comprehensive data reduces the ability to effectively manage emissions. Consideration needs to be given to the impact of patient travel, staff travel and new clinic construction on the carbon footprint. Medical suppliers are encouraged to provide life cycle analysis (LCA) for dental products.
气候变化对全球健康构成重大威胁，需要采取协同行动来减少温室气体排放。本研究首次系统地尝试量化国家牙科服务的碳排放。
碳核算结合了自上而下的方法（使用投入产出分析进行间接排放（采购））和自下而上的过程分析（直接排放（建筑能源、旅行、废物和水））。能源和水的消耗基于仪表读数、收集合同产生的废物相关排放以及员工和患者问卷调查的旅行。向牙科公司询问其产品的碳足迹数据。
该服务的碳足迹为每年 1798.9 吨二氧化碳当量。旅行是最大的来源（45.1%），其次是采购（35.9%）和建筑能源（18.3%）。也许与直觉相悖的是，较旧的诊所比较新的诊所具有更低的碳足迹，因为它们的能源密集度较低。推断数据表明，苏格兰国民保健系统的牙科服务每年产生 0.16 兆吨（Mt）二氧化碳当量（苏格兰国民保健系统碳足迹的 4%）。
缺乏全面的数据降低了有效管理排放的能力。需要考虑患者旅行、员工旅行和新诊所建设对碳足迹的影响。鼓励医疗供应商为牙科产品提供生命周期分析（LCA）。
