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Each year, millions of contrast-enhanced CT scans help diagnose diseases—but they come with an environmental downside. Iodinated contrast media (ICM), essential for these scans, are increasingly found in surface and drinking water. At Radboudumc, researchers are now testing innovative ways to reduce the release of these agents into the environment.
After a scan, ICM leave the body through urine and can end up in our rivers, lakes, and even drinking water. Some degradation products may be harmful, and current wastewater treatment systems aren’t fully equipped to remove them. This growing concern has prompted efforts to explore more sustainable solutions.
Testing practical solutions
To explore a possible solution, Radboudumc researcher Heleen Dekker et al. asked patients undergoing contrast-enhanced CT scans to use special disposable urine bags for the first four times they urinated after the scan. These bags were then thrown away with regular household waste. Most participants found the bags easy to use, and by using them for about nine hours, a significant portion of the contrast agent was kept out of the sewage system. The results of this study are recently published in European Radiology.
Filtering at the source
As a next step, Radboudumc has now installed a new filtration system in the Department of Medical Imaging. This system treats urine from CT scan patients before it enters the sewer, helping reduce the environmental footprint of routine medical procedures.
With this research, Radboudumc is taking concrete steps toward more sustainable healthcare—without compromising patient care.
About the publication
Dekker HM, Beltman HB, Prokop M. Are patients willing to help reduce contrast material in the environment? The outpatient use of urine bags after contrast-enhanced computed tomography. Eur Radiol. 2025 Apr 11. doi: 10.1007/s00330-025-11565-6. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40216613.
