By swapping metered-dose inhalers for dry powder inhalers, users could reduce their carbon emissions equivalent to reducing their meat consumption or recycling, researchers said Wednesday.
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But patients have been warned not to make such changes without medical advice.
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Inhalers are used to treat the symptoms of conditions such as asthma by releasing medicine straight into a patient’s lungs, widening the airways and making it easier to breathe.
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Metered-dose inhalers contain liquified, compressed gas hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) — a greenhouse gas — which acts as a propellant to atomize the drug being delivered and to pump it out to the user.
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Seven out of 10 of the 50 million inhalers prescribed in England in 2017 were metered-dose inhalers.
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Researchers found that these metered-dose inhalers contribute 3.9% of the carbon footprint of the UK’s National Health Service (NHS).
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Alternative “greener” treatments, such as dry powder inhalers and aqueous mist inhalers, are available, experts said in the study published in BMJ Open.
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But the higher up-front price of some dry powder inhalers was a “significant barrier” when moving to such alternatives.
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Researchers found that the carbon footprints of metered-dose inhalers were up to 37 times those of dry powder inhalers.
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Replacing 10% of metered-dose inhalers in England with the cheapest dry powder equivalents would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of 58 kilotonnes of CO2, the scientists said.
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Researchers also found that an individual could save the equivalent of between 150 and 400 kilograms of CO2 a year by using “greener” alternatives — similar to the effect of reducing meat consumption, recycling, or installing wall insulation.
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An estimated 235 million people suffer from asthma worldwide, according to figures from the World Health Organization, and the condition is the most common chronic disease among children.
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“Climate change is a huge and present threat to health that will disproportionately impact the poorest and most vulnerable on the planet, including people with pre-existing lung disease,” James Smith, a consultant in public health at the University of Cambridge and author of the study, said in a statement.
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“Our study shows that switching to inhalers which are better for the environment could help individuals, and the NHS as a whole, reduce their impact on the climate significantly. This is an important step towards creating a zero carbon healthcare system fit for the 21st century,” he added.
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However, the researchers warned that people with asthma should not stop using their regular medication, but should instead discuss their options with a medical professional.
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“It’s important to stress that patients shouldn’t stop using their usual treatments to reduce their carbon footprint,” Alexander Wilkinson, respiratory medicine consultant and author of the study, said.
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“Instead we recommend patients review their condition and treatment at least annually with their healthcare professional and at this point discuss whether a more environmentally-friendly inhaler is available and appropriate in their situation.”
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Experts warned that switching to a different type of inhaler must not come at the expense of asthma sufferers’ health.
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“We recognize the need to protect the environment, but it’s critically important that people with asthma receive the medicines they need to stay well and avoid a life-threatening asthma attack,” Jessica Kirby, Head of Health Advice at Asthma UK, said in a statement.
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“Switching to a different type of inhaler can be complicated for people with asthma, as it involves learning a new inhaler technique, so it should only be done with support from a GP or asthma nurse,” she added.
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