Inhaler switch could reduce carbon footprint

Asthma Australia and Deakin University have launched a roadmap to improve asthma management while reducing greenhouse gas emissions from respiratory inhalers.

Australian inhalers cause the same greenhouse impact annually as 350,000 cars and 60 million eucalyptus trees would be required each year to offset the CO2 emissions.

Of the approximately 25 million inhalers sold annually in Australia, about 80 percent are pressurised metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs), which have a large carbon footprint and deliver a dose of medication propelled by a hydrofluorocarbon gas.

According to The National Sustainable Asthma Care Roadmap however, dry powder inhalers could reduce the environmental footprint of asthma care by 95 per cent.

The roadmap outlines several recommendations to help facilitate effective asthma care and lower emissions, including an education campaign, increasing clinician knowledge and reducing the cost and improving access to combination anti-inflammatory plus reliever inhalers – which are considered more effective than reliever inhalers alone.

Anthony Flynn, Asthma Australia’s director of health knowledge and translation, said the project was a sector-wide collaborative effort, with 50 organisations representing consumers, healthcare professionals, peak bodies and government helping to develop the roadmap.

“We look forward to working with all those involved and the Australian and state and territory governments to progress the recommendations from the roadmap and support the development of a national implementation plan,” he said.

“The process of developing the roadmap aimed to put people living with asthma at the centre of the conversation so that we are improving respiratory health as a primary goal while working towards environmentally friendly asthma care.

“People with asthma interested in this information should discuss treatment options and the suitability of dry powder inhalers with their doctor.”

The national project was led by Dr Mike Forrester, a Barwon Health paediatrician and Deakin University senior research fellow.

He said the campaign was a great example of both health and planetary co-benefits.

“Our report details underlying system challenges, the evidence regarding the evolution of guidelines, the footprint of care and the eight collaboratively developed goals to support the roadmap, with key recommendations and actions for the sector,” he said.

“Reducing the high rate of poorly controlled asthma and mitigating the environmental impact of pMDIs used to treat asthma represent a significant unmet need.

“This roadmap presents a compelling vision for the future of asthma care in Australia.

“We now hope to see investment and resources to translate these recommendations into a national implementation strategy.”

To view the full report, head to asthma.org.au