Impact of Anesthetic Gases on the Environment

Climate change is one of the most pressing global health challenges, yet the healthcare sector significantly contributes to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Among various hospital practices, anesthetic methods—particularly the use of volatile anesthetic gases like desflurane, sevoflurane, isoflurane, and nitrous oxide (N₂O)—are a notable source of emissions due to their high global warming potential (GWP) and long atmospheric lifetimes. This review compiles evidence from peer-reviewed studies published between 2000 and 2025, along with foundational research from before 2000, to assess the environmental impact of anesthetic gases and explore effective mitigation strategies. Volatile anesthetics are mainly exhaled unchanged, contributing to radiative forcing, while N₂O significantly affects stratospheric ozone depletion. Desflurane has the highest GWP, while sevoflurane and isoflurane also have important environmental impacts.