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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Japanese Journal of Radiology

Green radiology (part 1): environmental sustainability and energy consumption in medical imaging, with perspectives from Japan

  • Hideki Ota1
  • Tsuneo Yamashiro2
  • Kanako Kunishima Kumamaru3
  • Soma Kumasaka4
  • Aki Kido5
  • Kumi Ozaki6
  • Yumiko Kono7
  • Minako Azuma8
  • Tetsuya Fukuda9
  • Noriko Aida10,11
11 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Tohoku University Hospital, 1-1 Seiyo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 9808524 Japan
  2. 2Department of Radiology, St. Luke’s International Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
  3. 3Faculty of Health Data Science, Juntendo University, Chiba, Japan
  4. 4Department of Applied Medical Imaging, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
  5. 5Department of Radiology, Toyama University Hospital, Toyama, Japan
  6. 6Department of Radiology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
  7. 7Department of Radiology, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata, Japan
  8. 8Faculty of Medicine, Department of radiology, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
  9. 9Department of Radiology, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Suita, Japan
  10. 10Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
  11. 11Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Shonan Kamakura General Hospital, Kamakura, Japan
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Abstract

Climate change is an important public health challenge, and healthcare itself contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Within healthcare, radiology is energy intensive because modern imaging services require high-power equipment, cooling systems, digital infrastructure, consumables, and continuous operational readiness. This review summarizes current evidence on the environmental footprint of radiology and discusses practical strategies for implementing Green Radiology, with particular attention to Japan. Life cycle assessment studies indicate that the operational phase of imaging systems, especially electricity use, is an important contributor to radiology-related emissions, while non-productive idle periods represent a key opportunity for mitigation. MRI, CT, interventional radiology, picture archiving and communication systems, workstations, and emerging artificial intelligence (AI)-related infrastructure each contribute to this footprint in different ways. Practical measures include equipment power management, workflow optimization, protocol optimization, energy-aware information technology management, careful implementation of AI, and reduction of low-value imaging, many of which may also improve operational efficiency and reduce costs. However, these strategies must be implemented with attention to emergency readiness, scanner warm-up requirements, diagnostic accuracy, patient safety, and clinical workflow. In Japan, high CT and MRI scanner density with relatively low per-scanner utilization may increase non-productive energy use, but broad equipment distribution also supports accessibility, regional equity, and emergency preparedness. At the system level, reducing the environmental footprint of radiology in Japan therefore requires balanced regional coordination, shared resource utilization, selective consolidation where appropriate, and effective allocation of limited radiologist resources. Green Radiology should aim to reduce avoidable environmental burden while maintaining diagnostic accuracy, patient safety, equitable access to medical imaging, and high-quality patient care.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{ota2026green,
  title = {{Green radiology (part 1): environmental sustainability and energy consumption in medical imaging, with perspectives from Japan}},
  author = {Hideki Ota and Tsuneo Yamashiro and Kanako Kunishima Kumamaru and Soma Kumasaka and Aki Kido and Kumi Ozaki and Yumiko Kono and Minako Azuma and Tetsuya Fukuda and Noriko Aida},
  journal = {Japanese Journal of Radiology},
  year = {2026},
  month = jul,
  doi = {10.1007/s11604-026-02043-0},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s11604-026-02043-0},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Green radiology (part 1): environmental sustainability and energy consumption in medical imaging, with perspectives from Japan
AU  - Hideki Ota
AU  - Tsuneo Yamashiro
AU  - Kanako Kunishima Kumamaru
AU  - Soma Kumasaka
AU  - Aki Kido
AU  - Kumi Ozaki
AU  - Yumiko Kono
AU  - Minako Azuma
AU  - Tetsuya Fukuda
AU  - Noriko Aida
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/07/10
JO  - Japanese Journal of Radiology
DO  - 10.1007/s11604-026-02043-0
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1007/s11604-026-02043-0
AB  - Climate change is an important public health challenge, and healthcare itself contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Within healthcare, radiology is energy intensive because modern imaging services require high-power equipment, cooling systems, digital infrastructure, consumables, and continuous operational readiness. This review summarizes current evidence on the environmental footprint of radiology and discusses practical strategies for implementing Green Radiology, with particular attention to Japan. Life cycle assessment studies indicate that the operational phase of imaging systems, especially electricity use, is an important contributor to radiology-related emissions, while non-productive idle periods represent a key opportunity for mitigation. MRI, CT, interventional radiology, picture archiving and communication systems, workstations, and emerging artificial intelligence (AI)-related infrastructure each contribute to this footprint in different ways. Practical measures include equipment power management, workflow optimization, protocol optimization, energy-aware information technology management, careful implementation of AI, and reduction of low-value imaging, many of which may also improve operational efficiency and reduce costs. However, these strategies must be implemented with attention to emergency readiness, scanner warm-up requirements, diagnostic accuracy, patient safety, and clinical workflow. In Japan, high CT and MRI scanner density with relatively low per-scanner utilization may increase non-productive energy use, but broad equipment distribution also supports accessibility, regional equity, and emergency preparedness. At the system level, reducing the environmental footprint of radiology in Japan therefore requires balanced regional coordination, shared resource utilization, selective consolidation where appropriate, and effective allocation of limited radiologist resources. Green Radiology should aim to reduce avoidable environmental burden while maintaining diagnostic accuracy, patient safety, equitable access to medical imaging, and high-quality patient care.
SN  - 1867-1071
SN  - 1867-108X
ER  -