A UCLA Health study has revealed that inhalers for asthma and COPD have generated over 2 million metric tons of carbon emissions annually, equivalent to 530,000 gas-powered cars. This alarming revelation underscores the urgent need for eco-friendly alternatives.
Inhalers, the frontline defense for asthma and COPD patients, come with a hefty environmental price tag, according to a new study by UCLA Health. This extensive study, the largest of its kind in the United States, quantifies the significant greenhouse gas emissions linked to inhaler use.
The study revealed that inhalers have produced over 2 million metric tons of carbon emissions annually over the past decade. This level of emissions is comparable to the yearly environmental impact of around 530,000 gas-powered vehicles.
Published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), the research analyzed emissions stemming from three types of inhalers approved for asthma or COPD over a period from 2014 to 2024.
The study found that metered-dose inhalers were the primary culprits, responsible for 98% of the emissions. These inhalers use hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) propellants, potent greenhouse gases also found in aerosol sprays and refrigerants.
“Inhalers add to the growing carbon footprint of the US healthcare system, putting many patients with chronic respiratory disease at risk,” lead author William Feldman, a pulmonologist and health services researcher at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, said in a news release. “On the upside, there is tremendous opportunity to make changes that protect both patients and the planet by utilizing lower-emission alternatives.”
The study utilized a comprehensive U.S. database to capture inhaler prescriptions at the National Drug Code (NDC) level. Validated academic studies were used to estimate emissions, which were then analyzed by various factors such as drug type, device type, propellant type, branded status and other categories.
The implications of these findings extend beyond environmental concerns. The researchers aim to delve deeper into inhaler-related emissions within specific patient populations, including Medicaid recipients.
Future studies will also look at clinical outcomes between lower- and higher-emission inhalers within the same therapeutic class and investigate the pricing and patenting strategies employed by pharmaceutical companies as they develop greener inhaler technologies.
“A key first step to driving change is understanding the true scale of the problem,” Feldman added. “From there, we can identify what’s fueling these emissions and develop targeted strategies to reduce them — benefiting both patients and the environment.”
Source: University of California – Los Angeles Health Services