Environment

Asthma, inhalers, and the environment

· Around 12% of the UK population have a diagnosis of asthma and 5.4 million people are receiving asthma treatment.

· Inhalers are prescribed for long-term prevention as well as for relief during symptom flare ups.

· The two main inhaler device types are pressurised metered dose inhalers (pMDIs) and dry powder inhalers (DPIs).

· pMDIs make up 70% of inhalers prescribed in the UK, however they are commonly used incorrectly meaning little medication reaches the lungs and the ideal asthma control is not achieved.

Are you using your inhaler correctly?

A quick and easy way to check you’re using the right inhaler technique is

by watching these short inhaler technique videos.

How do some inhalers damage the environment?

· Pressurised MDI inhalers work by using propellants (gas) to carry the puff of medication into the lungs.

· These propellants are greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.

· MDIs account for 3% of the NHS total carbon emissions, making them the largest medicine contributor.

Environment 

Different inhalers have different carbon footprints.

You might not know what specific type of inhaler you use. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has developed a patient decision aid about inhalers, which can help you find out the type of inhaler you use.

The best inhaler is the one that works well for you.

Looking after your lung condition well is better for you and the environment.

If you have any concerns about your asthma and your inhalers, please speak to a local pharmacist or ask for an appointment with the Practice Nurse.

Inhaler disposal

Inhalers can’t be recycled with household rubbish.

When inhalers are put in the bin at home, they may end up in landfill and any remaining greenhouse gases from pMDIs are released into the atmosphere.

The best way to dispose of inhalers is to take them to your local pharmacy. Your pharmacy can send your inhalers to be incinerated with other medical waste. This type of disposal reduces the impact of the leftover greenhouse gases. This is better for the environment, compared to putting inhalers in landfill.

In some cases, pharmacies have access to inhaler recycling, which means the plastic and gases can be recycled. 

References

1. https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/asthma

2. https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/conditions/asthma/how-inhalers-affect-environment

3. https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/conditions/asthma/changing-lower-carbon-inhaler

4. https://patient.info/chest-lungs/asthma-leaflet/asthma-inhalers