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Estimating the national carbon footprint of inhalers in healthcare

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Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971 -) Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Metered dose inhalers (MDIs) contain greenhouse gases which have a disproportionate effect on the carbon footprint of healthcare. There are more environmentally friendly alternatives such as dry powder inhalers (DPIs) or soft mist inhalers (SMIs).

Aims

This study aims to approximate the carbon footprint of inhalers dispensed in Irish healthcare.

Methods

Health Market Research data was used to examine the number of inhalers sold in Ireland in 2019 via dispensing data from pharmacy IT systems. The carbon footprint per inhaler data was then used to calculate the total carbon footprint of each drug class, and an estimate for the total carbon footprint of inhalers sold in Ireland was generated.

Results

4,427,287 inhalers were dispensed in Ireland in 2019 of which 2,608,433 (59%) were MDIs and 1,818,854 were DPIs/SMIs (41.1%). The total carbon equivalent of these inhalers was estimated to be 54,765 tCO2. MDIs account for 59% of inhaler units dispensed but account for 97% of inhaler-related carbon emissions.

Conclusion

Targeting inhaler prescribing offers the potential to significantly improve the carbon footprint of Irish healthcare. Establishing the current carbon footprint of the inhalers that are prescribed, dispensed, and disposed in Ireland is a necessary baseline to inform moving towards a net zero health service.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clermont Health, Dundalk, Ireland

    Sean Owens

  2. Boehringer Ingelheim, Dublin, Ireland

    Kevin Morris

  3. Centre for Health Policy and Management, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

    Eimir Hurley

  4. Department of Respiratory Medicine, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital and School of Medicine, UCD, Dublin, Ireland

    Katherine O’Reilly

  5. Respiratatory Integrated Care, Dublin North City & County and Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown, Dublin, Ireland

    Johanna O’Callaghan

  6. Sutton Cross Surgery, Dublin, Ireland

    John Allman

  7. GP Registrar, Fairview Medical Centre, Dublin, Ireland

    Diarmid Linehan

  8. Paediatric Respiratory Department, CHI at Tallaght University Hospital, Tallaght Dublin 24, Ireland

    Mary McDonald

  9. Waterford University Hospital, Waterford, Ireland

    Sandra Green

Authors
  1. Sean Owens
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  2. Kevin Morris
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  3. Eimir Hurley
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  4. Katherine O’Reilly
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  5. Johanna O’Callaghan
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  6. John Allman
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  7. Diarmid Linehan
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  8. Mary McDonald
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  9. Sandra Green
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sean Owens.

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Conflict of interest

Dr Sean Owens and Dr John Allman are unpaid members of registered charity Irish Doctors for the Environment and also unpaid members of Plant Based Doctors Ireland. Dr Sandra Green is an unpaid member of Irish Doctors for the Environment. Kevin Morris is a full-time employee at Boehringer-Ingelheim. Boehringer-Ingelheim supplied pharmacy data for audit which was purchased from HMR.

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Owens, S., Morris, K., Hurley, E. et al. Estimating the national carbon footprint of inhalers in healthcare. Ir J Med Sci 192, 2251–2253 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-022-03234-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-022-03234-0

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