Recommendations for Reducing the Environmental Impact of Inhalers in Portugal: Consensus Document

Authors

  • Luí­s Campos Hospital CUF Tejo. Lisboa; Conselho Português para a Saúde e Ambiente. Lisboa.
  • Paula Rosa Serviço de Pneumologia. Hospital de Vila Franca de Xira Unidade Local de Saúde Estuário do Tejo. Vila Franca de Xira; Hospital CUF Descobertas. Lisboa; Sociedade Portuguesa de Pneumologia. Lisboa.
  • Pedro Carreiro Martins Serviço de Imunoalergologia. Hospital Dona Estefânia. Unidade Local de Saúde São José. Lisboa; NOVA Medical School. Universidade NOVA de Lisboa. Lisboa; Sociedade Portuguesa de Alergologia e Imunologia Clínica. Lisboa.
  • Bilhota Xavier Sociedade Portuguesa de Pediatria. Lisboa; Secção Pediátrica da Qualidade e Segurança. Sociedade Portuguesa de Pediatria. Lisboa.
  • Pedro Leuschner Serviço de Medicina Interna. Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Santo António. Porto; Instituto de Ciência Biomédicas Abel Salazar. Porto; Sociedade Portuguesa de Medicina Interna. Lisboa.
  • Maria Inês M. Marques Unidade de Saúde Familiar Reynaldo dos Santos. Unidade Local de Saúde Estuário do Tejo. Vila Franca de Xira; Associação Portuguesa de Medicina Geral e Familiar. Lisboa.
  • José Albino Associação Respira. Lisboa.
  • Carlos Robalo Cordeiro Sociedade Portuguesa de Pneumologia. Lisboa; Serviço de Pneumologia. Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Coimbra. Unidade Local de Saúde de Coimbra. Coimbra; Faculdade de Medicina. Universidade de Coimbra. Coimbra. 

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20344/amp.22062

Keywords:

Administration, Inhalation, Carbon Footprint, Dry Powder Inhalers, Greenhouse Gases, Metered Dose Inhalers, Nebulizers and Vaporizers, Portugal

Abstract

This consensus document addresses the reduction of the environmental impact of inhalers in Portugal. It was prepared by the Portuguese Council for Health and the Environment and the societies representing the specialties that account for these drugs’ largest volume of prescriptions, namely the Portuguese Society of Pulmonology, the Portuguese Society of Allergology and Clinical Immunology, the Portuguese Society of Pediatrics, the Portuguese Society of Internal Medicine, the Portuguese Association of General and Family Medicine and also a patient association, the Respira Association. The document acknowledges the significant impact of pressurized metered-dose inhalers on greenhouse gas emissions and highlights the need to transition to more sustainable alternatives. The carbon footprint of pressurized metered-dose inhalers and dry powder inhalers in Portugal was calculated, and the level of awareness among prescribing physicians on this topic was also estimated. Finally, recommendations were developed to accelerate the reduction of the ecological footprint of inhalers.

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Published

2024-09-02

How to Cite

1.
Campos L, Rosa P, Carreiro Martins P, Xavier B, Leuschner P, M. Marques MI, Albino J, Robalo Cordeiro C. Recommendations for Reducing the Environmental Impact of Inhalers in Portugal: Consensus Document. Acta Med Port [Internet]. 2024 Sep. 2 [cited 2024 Oct. 6];37(9):654-61. Available from: https://www.actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/22062

Issue

Section

Guidelines