{"id":30236,"date":"2025-10-06T21:13:20","date_gmt":"2025-10-06T21:13:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/?p=30236"},"modified":"2025-10-06T21:13:22","modified_gmt":"2025-10-06T21:13:22","slug":"inhalers-for-asthma-and-copd-come-with-heavy-climate-cost-new-study-finds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/inhalers-for-asthma-and-copd-come-with-heavy-climate-cost-new-study-finds\/","title":{"rendered":"Inhalers for Asthma and COPD Come With Heavy Climate Cost, Study Finds"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-blockquote uagb-block-e7eb3fc3 uagb-blockquote__skin-border uagb-blockquote__stack-img-none\"><blockquote class=\"uagb-blockquote\"><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__content\">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.<\/div><footer><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__author-wrap uagb-blockquote__author-at-left\"><\/div><\/footer><\/blockquote><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-b0ffac9c wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-size:16px\" class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-post-author\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-author__content\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-author__name\">The University Network<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share uagb-social-share__outer-wrap uagb-social-share__layout-horizontal uagb-block-ee584a31\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-ec619ce7\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"facebook\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M504 256C504 119 393 8 256 8S8 119 8 256c0 123.8 90.69 226.4 209.3 245V327.7h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.28c-30.8 0-40.41 19.12-40.41 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V501C413.3 482.4 504 379.8 504 256z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-32d99934\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"twitter\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-1d136f14\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"linkedin\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/jamanetwork.com\/journals\/jama\/article-abstract\/2839471\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Published<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cInhalers add to the growing carbon footprint of the US healthcare system, putting many patients with chronic respiratory disease at risk,\u201d lead author William Feldman, a pulmonologist and health services researcher at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, said in a news release. \u201cOn the upside, there is tremendous opportunity to make changes that protect both patients and the planet by utilizing lower-emission alternatives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cA key first step to driving change is understanding the true scale of the problem,\u201d Feldman added. \u201cFrom there, we can identify what\u2019s fueling these emissions and develop targeted strategies to reduce them \u2014 benefiting both patients and the environment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:14px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Source:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uclahealth.org\/news\/release\/ucla-health-study-finds-inhalers-asthma-and-copd-drive\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">University of California &#8211; Los Angeles Health Services<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"single-no-separators","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[202],"class_list":["post-30236","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-climate-and-environment","tag-ucla"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"The University Network","author_link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/author\/funky_junkie\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"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&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30236","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30236"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30236\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30248,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30236\/revisions\/30248"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30236"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30236"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30236"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}