RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Thinking “Green” When Treating “Pink Puffers” and “Blue Bloaters”—Reducing Carbon Footprint When Prescribing Inhalers
JF The Journal of the American Board of Family
                Medicine
JO J Am Board Fam Med
FD American Board of Family Medicine
SP 356
OP 359
DO 10.3122/jabfm.2022.220292R2
VO 36
IS 2
A1 Harland T. Holman
A1 Michael J. Bouthillier
A1 Frank Müller
YR 2023
UL http://www.jabfm.org/content/36/2/356.abstract
AB The impact of man-made climate change is already affecting millions of people worldwide. The health care sector in the US is a relevant contributor, accounting for about 8 to 10% of national greenhouse gas emissions. This special communication describes the harmful impact of propellant gases in metered dose inhalers (MDI) on the climate and summarizes and discusses current knowledge and recommendations from European countries. Dry powder inhalers (DPI) are a good alternative to MDIs and are available for all inhaler drug classes recommended in current asthma and COPD guidelines. Changing an MDI to PDI can significantly reduce carbon footprints. The majority of the US population is willing to do more to protect the climate. Primary care providers can engage in this by addressing the impacts of drug therapy on climate change in medical decision making.