Transcript Document

Ozone Friendly Inhalers
CFCs Harm The Environment
In 1973, scientists started researching the impact that
CFCs had on the earth’s atmosphere. They found that
when CFCs reached the stratosphere layer, ultraviolet
radiation broke them down and released the Chlorine
atoms. These Chlorine atoms are believed to breakdown
large amounts of ozone.
Asthma Inhalers
300 million people worldwide suffer from asthma.
Albuterol is a drug used to relax and open the airways of
patients who suffer from asthma symptoms. The most
common form of albuterol is administered in an inhaler
form. The propellant used to eject the medication into the
lungs have always been CFCs, but now the switch is being
made to change it to the more environmentally friendly,
HFA propellant.
Image from http://www.enviroblog.org/inhaler.jpg
A Push For Change.
The Montreal Protocol, developed in 1987, is a treaty which
was designed to phase out substances that are responsible
for the depletion of the ozone. Since 1994, metered-dose
inhalers have been exempt from the Montreal Protocol.
The FDA has finally found HFA inhalers to be safe and
effective, and starting at the end of 2008 patients will have to
stop using CFC inhalers.
“It is very important to educate the
asthma community about how to
obtain, clean and operate HFA
inhalers.”
-John Kirkwood
President/CEO, American Lung Association
Why The Need To Switch
 An estimated 300 million people worldwide
suffer from asthma.
 About 52 million prescriptions for albuterol are
filled each year.
 CFCs from inhalers make up 1% of the total CFC
load.
 1% decrease in ozone is equivalent to a 2%
increase in nonmelanoma skin caner.
Karen Schwalm
Josh Bishop, Rosa Penafiel, Billy Waldie, Tram Pham