The environmental burden of inhalation

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Pharmaceutical Technology
• Public Health

Background:

• Inhaler devices, primarily metered dose inhalers (MDIs) and dry powder inhalers (DPIs), are evaluated for their environmental impact, including carbon footprint (CF) and waste generation.
• While MDIs and DPIs contribute minimally to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (0.03% and 0.0012% respectively), national contributions can be higher based on inhaler type prevalence.
• MDIs are more common in countries like the USA and UK, suggesting a potential benefit from shifting towards DPIs where therapeutically appropriate.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically assess the environmental impact of inhalation systems, focusing on greenhouse gas emissions and waste management.
• To evaluate the significance of GHG emissions from inhalers in the context of global climate change.
• To highlight the environmental risks associated with drug residues and unused doses in discarded inhalers.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of global and national contributions of MDIs and DPIs to greenhouse gas emissions.
• Assessment of inhaler waste, including plastic contribution and the issue of residual drug content.
• Evaluation of current waste management practices and their environmental consequences.

Main Results:

• Global GHG emissions from inhalers are relatively small, suggesting limited impact on global warming.
• A shift from MDIs to DPIs, especially in countries with high MDI usage, could offer environmental benefits if therapy is not compromised.
• Using renewable energy for DPI production and waste management could render them nearly climate-neutral.
• Inhalers constitute a minor fraction of global plastic waste, but their disposal poses risks due to retained pharmaceutical residues.
• The primary environmental concern is the leakage of drugs from discarded inhalers into soil and water systems, impacting ecosystems and biodiversity.

Conclusions:

• Mitigating GHG emissions from inhalers may not significantly impact global climate change, but national strategies can be beneficial.
• The most significant environmental risk stems from improper disposal of inhalers containing residual drugs, necessitating robust collection and waste management systems.
• Effective waste management programs are essential to prevent drug contamination of water sources and protect biodiversity.