Asthma Inhalers Scheduled to Go Green, Become More Expensive : CleanTechnica
Come December 31, all albuterol inhalers in the U.S. will be a little bit greener— and a lot more expensive. The inhalers will stop using chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) that [allegedly] damage the ozone layer, and will be powered by hydroflueroalkane (HFC) instead. While the new inhalers will benefit the environment, they will also cost $30 to $60. CFC inhalers cost only $5 to $10.
The HFC inhalers will be strange to albuterol veterans— the medicine tastes and feels different, and the inhaler’s hole needs to be cleaned weekly to prevent clogging.
For asthma sufferers that are averse to change, non-prescription epinephrine inhalers will contain CFCs until the government cracks down in December 2011. But replacing albuterol with epinephrine is dangerous, as the non-prescription drug is less effective.
Posts
2 comments:
Oh dear. Now the asthmatics will do battle with the environmentalists. If it weren't so tragic, it would be funny. The environmentalists have been using asthmatics to stop farmers from field burning and homeowners from burning yard waste or heating their homes with wood. The asthmatics are about to find out that environmentalism has nothing to do with saving or protecting people.
Right on cue, this morning there was a letter to the editor in one of my local newspapers decrying the use of woodstoves. I was able to respond with this article. Thanks!
Post a Comment