Environmental IssuesAlthough the MRI does not prove any immediate environmental issues, there is always the pollution that comes from mining materials.
Important metals such as niobium titanium alloy embedded in copper, copper, and aluminum that are used to make the coils for the MRI must be taken from the Earth. One special mineral useful in an MRI procedure is gadolinium. This element is used as a contrast agent and is injected into patients undergoing MRI scans. This increases the scan's clarity and has been used to target tumours in the body. Gadolinium on the molecular level, exhibits a rare jumping motion in an electrical field. In addition, gadolinium metal exhibits magnetocaloric effect meaning that its temperature increases when placed in a magnetic field and decreases when removed from a magnetic field. Pollution stems from the ability to obtain Gadolinium. It is recovered as a by-product of iron ore mining by hard-rock open pit methods. |
Disposing of MRI Film
When the MRI image is collected, the image is then transferred onto a film to be analyzed. With more people getting MRI scans, comes more film being used. This doesn't just result from MRI scans, but rather with any imaging technology such as x-ray films, CT scans. These films are made of PET plastics, and silver. By throwing away so many of these films, we also throw away large amounts of plastic and silver out the window. In addition if these films are disposed of in the garbage or landfill, the silver from these films can potentially leach out into the ground.
To combat this issue, there are certain companies that specialize in the recycling of silver film such as Maratak. Some of the silver films they recycle include:
The Maratek location is licensed by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and conforms to the stringent standards necessary to operate a hazardous waste recycling and disposal site.
When the MRI image is collected, the image is then transferred onto a film to be analyzed. With more people getting MRI scans, comes more film being used. This doesn't just result from MRI scans, but rather with any imaging technology such as x-ray films, CT scans. These films are made of PET plastics, and silver. By throwing away so many of these films, we also throw away large amounts of plastic and silver out the window. In addition if these films are disposed of in the garbage or landfill, the silver from these films can potentially leach out into the ground.
To combat this issue, there are certain companies that specialize in the recycling of silver film such as Maratak. Some of the silver films they recycle include:
- MRI film
- Cat scans
- Laser X-Ray Films
- Laser X-Ray
- X-Ray Film produced through Laser technology
- and much more.
The Maratek location is licensed by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and conforms to the stringent standards necessary to operate a hazardous waste recycling and disposal site.
Another issue relates to the decrease of liquid helium due to the large amount used in MRIs. MRIs are not sustainable because of how much liquid helium is used to maintain a strong constant magnetic field.
Refer to Environmental impacts for more information on this topic.
Refer to Environmental impacts for more information on this topic.