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Metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) have been a mainstay of inhaled therapy for decades; however, they contain propellants, such as hydrofluorocarbons, which are potent greenhouse gases. The climate effects of commonly prescribed inhalers are largely unrecognized.
In a study based on 2022 U.S. Medicare and Medicaid data, researchers converted greenhouse emissions per inhaler into equivalents of miles driven in an average gasoline-powered passenger vehicle. They found that, on average, each MDI used is equivalent to driving 57 miles; the highest emissions were for short–acting β-agonist inhalers (70 miles). In comparison, each dry-powder inhaler (DPI) used is equivalent to driving 2 miles. In another study, investigators determined that, at standard…