Inhalers produce carbon emissions equivalent to 530,000 cars on the road each year, study finds
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Inhalers that provide quick relief to patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may be taking their toll on the planet, producing as much climate-warming pollution as more than half a million cars each year.
Researchers reported in a new JAMA study that inhalers have generated more than 2 million metric tons of carbon emissions each year over the past decade, equivalent to the emissions of about 530,000 gasoline cars on the road annually.
The study looked at emissions from three different types of inhalers approved for asthma or COPD from 2014 to 2024 and found that metered-dose inhalers were the most harmful to the environment.
According to a recent study, certain inhalers are producing a large amount of carbon emissions. (iStock)
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The researchers alleged that metered-dose inhalers, which use hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) propellants, potent greenhouse gases used in aerosols, were responsible for 98% of emissions over the decade.
Other inhalers, such as dry powder and soft mist inhalers, deliver medications without propellants and have a much smaller environmental footprint.
Some companies, such as AstraZeneca, have already committed to transitioning from pressurized metered dose inhalers (pMDIs) to propellants with substantially lower global war potential.
According to researchers, other inhalers have a smaller environmental footprint. (iStock)
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The study’s lead author, Dr. William Feldman, a pulmonologist and health services researcher at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, said inhalers put patients with chronic respiratory diseases at risk.
“On the positive side, there is a tremendous opportunity to make changes that protect both patients and the planet by using lower-emission alternatives,” Feldman wrote in a UCLA news release.
To conduct the analysis, the researchers turned to a comprehensive national database of inhaler prescriptions, at the National Drug Code (NDC) level.
Emissions were then estimated using validated academic studies and analyzed by drug type, device type, propellant type, therapeutic class, brand status, manufacturer, payer, and pharmacy benefit manager.
Some pharmaceutical companies have already transitioned to inhalers that produce fewer carbon emissions. (iStock)
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The team plans to expand the research to evaluate inhaler emissions in specific patient groups, such as Medicaid beneficiaries, and compare the clinical outcomes of low- and high-emission inhalers in the same therapeutic class.
They will also investigate how pricing and patenting strategies could shape the deployment of new low-emission inhaler technologies.
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“A key first step in driving change is understanding the true magnitude of the problem,” Feldman said. “From there, we can identify what is fueling these emissions and develop specific strategies to reduce them, benefiting both patients and the environment.”
Alexandra Koch is a News Digital journalist covering breaking news, focusing on high-impact events that shape the national conversation.
He has covered major national crises, including the Los Angeles wildfires, the Potomac and Hudson river aviation disasters, the Boulder terrorist attack, and the Texas Hill Country flooding.