Campos Luí S, Rosa Paula, Carreiro Martins Pedro, Xavier Bilhota, Leuschner Pedro, M Marques Maria Inês, Albino José, Robalo Cordeiro Carlos
Hospital CUF Tejo. Lisboa; Conselho Português para a Saúde e Ambiente. Lisboa. Portugal.
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. Portugal.
Acta Med Port. 2024 Sep 2;37(9):654-661. doi: 10.20344/amp.22062.
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.
