Breathing easy with an a pressurised inhaler could choke the atmosphere

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2023-04-14 00:01

New Zealand

Alan Levine via Flickr

The propellants used in pressurised asthma inhalers are potent greenhouse gases and carry a substantial global warming footprint, while the alternative – dry powder inhalers – are equally effective with fewer consequences on the environment. Researchers surveying in Dunedin and Invercargill found that more than a third of health professionals and more than half of patients were unaware that pressurised inhalers had an environmental impact, and many would be willing to switch for that reason. However pressurised inhalers are still necessary for those who can't generate enough force on their inhale - for example babies and the elderly.

Media release

From: Pasifika Medical Association Group

Investigating attitudes and insights into the global warming impact of inhalers

Most clinicians and patients are willing to consider changing the type of inhaler they use to protect the environment. The propellants in currently available pressurised respiratory inhalers are potent greenhouse gases, and make up a substantial part of the carbon footprint of health services in New Zealand and many countries. Alternative types of inhaler are available that don’t use propellants
and have a much lower global warming effect, but these are used less often, despite being equally effective for most people. We asked prescribers and patients whether they would be willing to consider the environmental impact of inhalers when deciding which ones to use. Although everyone agreed that it was most important to have an inhaler that is effective and easy to use, most patients and clinicians were willing to consider the environment in their inhaler choice.

Journal/
conference: NZMJ

Organisation/s: University of Otago

Funder: NA

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