Climate change is increasingly impacting respiratory health, according to a recent article. Millions of individuals are experiencing breathing difficulties due to worsening air quality, pollution, and smoke from wildfires. Simultaneously, the healthcare systems designed to treat these conditions are contributing significantly to global warming.
What we know
- Over 90% of the global population breathes air with particulate levels above the World Health Organization’s recommendations.
- Health care institutions emit about five percent of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions, ranking them among the top global polluters.
- Inhalers for respiratory diseases, particularly pressurized metered-dose inhalers, contribute significantly to these emissions because they use hydrofluorocarbon propellants.
- AstraZeneca has created a new COPD inhaler that reduces its environmental impact by approximately 99.9% compared to the older versions.
- Pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson are planning significant emissions reductions in the coming years.
Details are limited in the source reporting so far regarding the broader implications of these changes on patient care or specific timelines for additional products entering the market.
The findings indicate a significant relationship between environmental factors and respiratory health, suggesting that improving air quality is essential for reducing the burden of respiratory diseases. Additionally, advancements in inhaler technology may play a critical role in mitigating healthcare’s carbon footprint.
Readers should monitor updates regarding legislation and regulations that could further influence the development of low-carbon inhalers and other healthcare interventions aimed at reducing environmental impacts.
Original source: Open the source
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