Carbon threat from asthma inhalers

aSthMa sufferers have been urged to switch to environmentally- friendly inhalers, after it emerged that some have the same carbon footprint as a 180-mile car journey.

the National Institute for health and Care excellence (Nice) wants asthmatics to use alternatives to the most popular type of inhaler if they can.

Most patients rely on metered dose inhalers (MDIs) which contain substances known as hydrofluorocarbons that propel medicine into the respiratory system.

But these are damaging to the environment, prompting the health watchdog to suggest greener alternatives. Nice has calculated that each dose from an MDI releases the equivalent of 500g of carbon dioxide, and five doses produces the same carbon emissions as a nine-mile car journey.

these inhalers usually contain 100 doses, and have the same carbon footprint as a trip from london to leicester and back in a typical car.

alternative dry powder inhalers have a fraction of the carbon footprint – releasing just 20g of Co2 per dose.

Professor Gillian leng, of Nice, said: ‘People who need to use metered dose inhalers should absolutely continue to do so, but if you have the choice of a green option, do think about the environment.

‘Cutting carbon emissions is good news for everyone, especially those with respiratory conditions.’

More than 26million prescriptions for metered dose inhalers were written by GPs in england in 2016/17. In 2011 they made up 70 per cent of UK sales, compared to around 10 per cent in Sweden, Nice said.

the new Nice guidance also urges patients to return used inhalers to local pharmacies so they can be safely disposed of, or to recycle them where the service is available.