Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Dialysis and environmental burdenIn-center hemodialysis (HD) is associated with high water consumption-up to 500 L per session-and annual carbon emissions reaching 10 tons of CO₂ per patient.The cumulative environmental cost of dialysis is equivalent to thousands of vehicle miles driven annually.Home HD systems that use low-flow technology reduce water and energy consumption by up to 75%.Facilities can also invest in reverse osmosis water reuse systems, dialysate flow optimization, and energy-efficient equipment to mitigate the environmental burden while maintaining quality care. Peritoneal dialysis: A scalable model for sustainable innovationWhile less centralized, peritoneal dialysis (PD) introduces its own sustainability challenges, particularly in dialysate manufacturing, packaging, and transport.Innovations such as Baxter's on-demand dialysate generation systems and Ellen Medical's solar-powered portable units present viable alternatives by minimizing supply-chain dependencies and enabling care in resource-constrained settings.These models offer scalable, cost-effective solutions aligned with the sustainability goals of both high-income and low-and middle-income countries.However, long-term data on outcomes and material durability are essential to ensure patient safety while promoting adoption.
Source: Kidney News
Authors: Clara García-Carro, Prakash Gudsoorkar
Institutions: Hospital Clínico San Carlos, University of Cincinnati
Language: English
Subfield: Nephrology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4410143271