For a MRI , the MeGadore project

As part of its environmental responsibility, the MRI team at the Caen Normandy University Hospital has set itself the objective of reducing pollution associated with the use of gadolinium.

What is the MeGadore project?

Born at the University Hospital of Brest, under the impetus of Professors Douraied Ben Salem, neuroradiologist, Jean-Alix Barrat, geochemist and researcher at the laboratory of marine environmental sciences (Lemar) and Raphael Tripier, chemist and researcher at the laboratory of chemistry, molecular electrochemistry and analytical chemistry, the MeGadore project proposes to all radiology services to establish a gadolinium recycling sector.

The team of medical radiographers in the MRI department of the University Hospital has adhered to this protocol.

What is gadolinium?

Gadolinium is a contrast agent used in MRI and belongs to the rare earth element category. It is used in a chelated form (chelation is a process that binds metals to the body) and is not metabolized by the human body. The extraction of these rare earth elements is a particularly polluting activity.

How to recover gadolinium?

Several possibilities:

in wastewater [a monumental and costly task],
in the urine of patients [currently under study],
in the syringes or vials of gadolinium

The MeGadore protocol is based on the collection and reprocessing of this excess waste.
The collection containers are provided by the protocol's promoters, who centralize the returns for shipment to a recycling plant.
"This step offers a significant secondary benefit: the quantity of Infectious Healthcare Waste (IHW) from the MRI has been significantly reduced," the department explains.