Summary
A study finds that asthma inhalers in the United States produce an amount of emissions similar to 500,000 cars each year. The research, published in JAMA, highlights that traditional metered-dose inhalers are the main contributors, while alternative inhalers with lower emissions are less accessible due to insurance barriers.
Key Facts
- U.S. asthma inhalers emit emissions equivalent to over 500,000 cars annually.
- Researchers from UCLA and Harvard analyzed data from 2014 to 2024.
- Metered-dose inhalers account for 98% of inhaler-related emissions.
- These inhalers use HFA propellants, which are greenhouse gases.
- Dry powder and soft mist inhalers have much lower emissions.
- Insurance issues make it harder to access lower-emission inhalers in the U.S.
- Alternatives like dry-powder inhalers are more common in countries like Sweden and Japan.
- The study aims to encourage policy changes for more sustainable inhaler options.
