Carbon footprint impact of the choice of inhalers for asthma and COPD.
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 31699805.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2019-213744 and PMC identifier 6929707.
- Licence recorded as CC BY-NC.
- Because redistribution is not established, this page shows the abstract only. Follow the links below for the full text.
Abstract
In the 1990s, metered dose inhalers (MDIs) containing chlorofluorocarbons were replaced with dry-powder inhalers (DPIs) and MDIs containing hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). While HFCs are not ozone depleting, they are potent greenhouse gases. Annual carbon footprint (CO<sub>2</sub>e), per patient were 17 kg for Relvar-Ellipta/Ventolin-Accuhaler; and 439 kg for Seretide-Evohaler/Ventolin-Evohaler. In 2017, 70% of all inhalers sold in England were MDI, versus 13% in Sweden. Applying the Swedish DPI and MDI distribution to England would result in an annual reduction of 550 kt CO<sub>2</sub>e. The lower carbon footprint of DPIs should be considered alongside other factors when choosing inhalation devices.
Medical subject headings
- Adrenergic beta-Agonists
- Asthma
- Carbon Footprint
- Nebulizers and Vaporizers
- Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive