Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40458643›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in medicine2025

A retrospective study on the carbon footprint of bodies donated to science for sustainable medical education and research.

Carlo Barausse, Subhi Tayeb, Lorenzo Bonifazi, Simone Lodi, Giulia Adalgisa Mariani, Ester Orsini, Sara Zanni, Alessandra Bonoli, Lucia Manzoli, Stefano Ratti

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In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Carlo BarausseCentre for Clinical and Surgical Experimental and Molecular Anatomy, and Cellular Signaling Laboratory, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Subhi TayebUnit of Oral Surgery, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Lorenzo BonifaziUnit of Oral Surgery, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Simone LodiCentre for Clinical and Surgical Experimental and Molecular Anatomy, and Cellular Signaling Laboratory, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Giulia Adalgisa MarianiCentre for Clinical and Surgical Experimental and Molecular Anatomy, and Cellular Signaling Laboratory, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Ester OrsiniCentre for Clinical and Surgical Experimental and Molecular Anatomy, and Cellular Signaling Laboratory, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Sara ZanniDepartment of Management, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Alessandra BonoliDepartment of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Lucia ManzoliCentre for Clinical and Surgical Experimental and Molecular Anatomy, and Cellular Signaling Laboratory, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Stefano RattiCentre for Clinical and Surgical Experimental and Molecular Anatomy, and Cellular Signaling Laboratory, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: A comprehensive understanding of human anatomy is essential for medical education, with donated human body dissection remaining the gold standard for this purpose. However, in countries where there is a shortage of locally donated bodies, anatomical centers are increasingly turning to external body donation programs, such as those in the United States, to meet their needs. Methods: This study assesses the carbon footprint (CO2e) of locally sourced vs. internationally sourced donated bodies, with the carbon footprint of the latter being estimated hypothetically. A retrospective observational study using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology was conducted to evaluate the environmental impacts. The analysis included factors such as transportation, preservation methods (fresh vs. embalmed), and additional aspects such as refrigeration and aeration. Results: Locally donated bodies had an average transport distance of 201.19 ± 172.78 km, resulting in 14 ± 11.84 kgCO2e per body. In contrast, international transport from the US hypothetically produced approximately 450.375 kgCO2e per body, representing a 3114.3% increase. The total carbon footprint for a locally donated body was 8948.99 kgCO2e annually. These findings suggest that local donation programs could significantly reduce transportation emissions, making them more eco-friendly. Discussion: Promoting local donation programs could not only enhance educational opportunities but also minimize the environmental impact of anatomical studies. Increasing the number of local donors would optimize the use of management systems, such as aeration and refrigeration, further improving sustainability. Due to the limitations of this study, further research is needed to refine these findings and explore strategies for reducing the carbon footprint in medical training.

Indexed as

body donationcarbon footprinthuman anatomymedical educationmedical research

Identifiers

PMID40458643
PMCPMC12127285

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.