Environmental Impacts of Inhaler

Ritika Pandit, Mr. Soumya Bhattacharya

Guru Nanak Institute of Pharmaceutical Science & Technology
(An autonomous institution under MAKAUT)
157/F Nilgunj Road, Panihati, Kolkata-700114, India

Email: bp21.0291@gnipst.pc.in

Abstract
Pressurised meter dose Inhalers (pMDI) and Dry Powder Inhalers (DPI) are widely used to treat
Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Back in 1956, when inhalers were first
introduced, Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) gases were used as propellant. In 1989 due to Montreal
Protocol CFCs were banned and the industries started using Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) as propellant.
Till this date HFC-134a and HFC-227ea are being used. However recent studies have shown that
these propellants are causing Ozone layer depletion, global warming, fossils and metal depletion,
terrestrial acidification, freshwater, marine eutrophication etc. Although using DPIs reduce ozone
depletion and global warming, it increases the impact of marine eutrophication by 450%. By reducing
60% usage of propellant in pMDIs and by recovering propellants from used pMDIs the impact can
be reduced somewhat. But for long term solution different propellants have to be used. Studies have
shown that HFC-152a has much lower impact than HFC-134a and HFC-227ea. This change can
reduce the global warming potential and ozone layer depletion by nearly 90%. The different benefits,
problems and processes are still being studied. Also, this would take some time to implement. Till
then all the HFC-227ea can be replaced by HFC-134a as this would reduce the ozone depletion by
50%. Pharmaceutical companies should take into account these steps as part of a long-term plan
because changing propellants or pMDIs necessitates further research and development.

Keywords: Pressurised Meter Dose Inhaler, Dry Powder Inhaler, Chlorofluorocarbon,

Hydrofluorocarbon, Global Warming Potential, Ozone Layer Depletion