Abstract
Joyce, Kelsey E., Catherine A. Campbell, Arthur R. Bradwell, Samuel J.E. Lucas, Christopher T. Lewis, Rebekah A.I. Lucas, and Mark Edsell. The environmental impact of a high-altitude medical research expedition. High Alt Med Biol. 00:00-00, 2024.
Introduction: Scientists must begin examining the environmental cost(s) of their research. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a component of the environmental impact of a high-altitude medical research expedition by totaling the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions calculated from as many direct and indirect sources as possible.
Methods: Eighteen individuals flew from London to Bagdogra (via Delhi), and then drove onward to Lachung (via Gangtok) where they began their ascent on foot to 4,800 m (Kanchenjunga National Park, Sikkim). Several research experiments were conducted throughout the expedition, which required use of a laboratory centrifuge, solid CO2 (specimen storage), rechargeable laptop computers and battery-powered oximeters. International Civil Aviation Organization calculators estimated aviation CO2 production. Land emissions were calculated for Mahindra vehicles. Solid waste was weighed and CO2 emissions estimated for its incineration.
Results: Total CO2 emissions equated to ∼16.7 tonnes from the following sources: air and land transportation of expedition team (87.3%); sublimation and transportation of solid CO2 (7.7%), waste incineration (0.58%), generator transportation and gasoline (12 l) combustion (0.48%), and battery transportation (3.3%).
Conclusions: Air travel contributed the most to the overall environmental cost of the research expedition. Further investigation is required to contextualize these findings in relation to lab-based alternative(s).
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | High Altitude Medicine and Biology |
| Early online date | 25 Oct 2024 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 25 Oct 2024 |
Keywords
- Carbon dioxide
- emissions
- environmental impact
- field-based research
- high altitude
Access to Document
- JoyceK2024environmental
This is the original submission version (pre-peer review) of the following article: Joyce, K.E., Campbell, C.A., Bradwell, A.R., Lucas, S.J., Lewis, C.T., Lucas, R.A., Edsell, M. and Birmingham Medical Research Expeditionary Society (BMRES), 2024. The Environmental Impact of a High-Altitude Medical Research Expedition. High Altitude Medicine & Biology., which has now been formally published in final form at High Altitude Medicine & Biology at: https://doi.org/10.1089/ham.2024.0049. This original submission version of the article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with the Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers’ self-archiving terms and conditions.