The warming caused by the gases produced by the asthma inhaler is negligible – Watts?

from carbon dioxide₂ alliance

Fritz Byron Thorpjan

January 2025

Abstract:

Various educational and medical institutions and policymakers have expressed concerns about the use of metered-dose inhalers to prevent or treat shortness of breath associated with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) because these inhalers use hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are Greenhouse gases, as propellants. In response, “eco-friendly” alternatives to metered-dose inhalers have been proposed for asthma sufferers.

To determine whether prescribing these alternatives is warranted, we used the concentrations and radiative forces of HFCs currently used as propellants in inhalers (HFC-134a and HFC-227ea) to predict the temperatures resulting from continued emissions of these HFCs into the air rise. According to our estimates, continued emissions of these HFCs will lead to a combined temperature increase of approximately 0.0132 °C within 50 years and approximately 0.0264 °C within 100 years. This temperature increase is negligible and cannot be measured or felt.

Therefore, limiting HFC emissions from inhalers is unnecessary and would have minimal climate impact. Given this conclusion, the choice of inhaler for patients with asthma or COPD should be based on the patient's health, safety and needs, rather than on purported environmental benefits.

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