ESTRO 2025 - Abstract Book

S2223

Interdisciplinary – Global health

ESTRO 2025

Initial data from all three centres indicates that electrical power for the treatment equipment is the key factor, forming 60-69% of the measured carbon footprints (see Figure 2). On a per-patient basis, proton therapy is estimated as significantly more carbon intensive than linac-based radiotherapy. Results indicate that electrical power is likely the largest contributor to carbon emissions of a proton therapy service, with construction also significant for high energy centres. Patient and staff travel varied significantly between the two high-energy centres, which is likely due to the accessibility of public transport. The large variation in the energy consumption at these two centres needs further analysis.

Conclusion: A bottom-up carbon footprint estimation has been made for low-energy and high-energy centres in the UK. Energy required to deliver the treatment forms the largest of the measured activities. This initial work provides a baseline estimate of the carbon footprint of UK proton centres with work ongoing to extend this.