A Washington Democrat hopes to study the impact of medical anesthesia on climate change. The goal is to address the environmental impact of the anesthetic gases used in medical, dental and veterinary practices. The bill said the state could prohibit the manufacture, distribution, sale or use of anesthetic gases.
Senate Bill 5236 orders the Department of Ecology to commission a study of anesthetic gases, including desflurane, isoflurane, sevoflurane, halothane and nitrous oxide because they are recognized as potent greenhouse gases contributing to climate change. The study must determine the extent to which the gases are used in Washington, provide an estimate of the emissions from anesthesia, and recommend measures to either reduce or completely eliminate emissions from these gases.
“(Department of Ecology) must submit recommendations to the appropriate committees of the legislature regarding any further statutory changes needed in order to appropriately and effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with the use of anesthetic gases, including any recommendations to prohibit the manufacture, distribution, sale or use of specific anesthetic gases,” the law states…