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Our prescription for climate change: reduce and recycle inhalers!

Theresia Auguste Mikolasch and Collette Isabel Stadler
British Journal of General Practice 2020; 70 (690): 30. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp20X707717
Theresia Auguste Mikolasch
UCL Respiratory, University College London, London. Email:
Roles: Respiratory Research Fellow
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  • For correspondence: t.mikolasch@ucl.ac.uk
Collette Isabel Stadler
University of Cambridge, Cambridge.
Roles: Academic Clinical Fellow in General Practice
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  • Our prescription for climate change: reduce and recycle inhalers!
    Gordon Macdonald
    Published on: 07 February 2020
  • Published on: (7 February 2020)
    Our prescription for climate change: reduce and recycle inhalers!
    • Gordon Macdonald, GP, Regent Gardens Medical Practice

    I applaud the author for their timely insights into the environmental impact of the myriad of inhalers we prescribe. I am sure if we are honest each of us have a handful of patients using more than 42 salbutamol metered dose inhalers (MDI’s) per year – a figure that equates to the greenhouse gas from one car per year.1 Perhaps we should cycle to work until we have completed a salbutamol overuse audit?

    Joking apart, it does seem that reducing and recycling MDI’s ought to be a priority given our current climat...

    Show More

    I applaud the author for their timely insights into the environmental impact of the myriad of inhalers we prescribe. I am sure if we are honest each of us have a handful of patients using more than 42 salbutamol metered dose inhalers (MDI’s) per year – a figure that equates to the greenhouse gas from one car per year.1 Perhaps we should cycle to work until we have completed a salbutamol overuse audit?

    Joking apart, it does seem that reducing and recycling MDI’s ought to be a priority given our current climate emergency. So on taking the author’s advice I was dismayed to discover that the “complete the cycle” recycling scheme was no longer accepting new referrals due to lack of funding. GSK, who run the scheme confirmed this, but today I met with their Government Affairs Director and made the following suggestions.

    Reduce MDI’s: Include a leaflet in all MDI packaging with a QR code linking to a you-tube video on how to use the MDI thus improving technique and reducing waste. Facilitate the switch to DPI’s by funding clinician time for the necessary reviews.

    Recycle MDI’s: Re-open the “complete the cycle” scheme with government backing. The flip side of the above leaflet in MDI packaging should have instructions on how to recycle the MDI at your local surgery or pharmacy via “complete the cycle” scheme.

    And for us clinicians? Perhaps prescribing targets should direct us to DPI’s, but best of all – raise awareness with MDI users.

    Reference
    1. Theresia AM and Collette IS. Our prescription for climate change: reduce and recycle inhalers! Br J Gen Pract 2020; 70(690):30. DOI: https: //doi. org/1 0.33 99/bjgp20X707717.

    Show Less
    Competing Interests: None declared.
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British Journal of General Practice: 70 (690)
British Journal of General Practice
Vol. 70, Issue 690
January 2020
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Our prescription for climate change: reduce and recycle inhalers!
Theresia Auguste Mikolasch, Collette Isabel Stadler
British Journal of General Practice 2020; 70 (690): 30. DOI: 10.3399/bjgp20X707717

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Our prescription for climate change: reduce and recycle inhalers!
Theresia Auguste Mikolasch, Collette Isabel Stadler
British Journal of General Practice 2020; 70 (690): 30. DOI: 10.3399/bjgp20X707717
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