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The Latest Ozone Villain: Laughing Gas

Nitrous oxide nothing to chuckle about, climate scientists say

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 28, 2009 11:54 AM CDT

(Newser) – Nitrous oxide is the new chlorofluorocarbons. A study published today fingers N2O, aka laughing gas, as the most dangerous ozone-depleting gas in the air, Time reports. Nitrous oxide isn’t as dangerous as CFCs, but it’s incredibly common, emitted by everything from fertilizer to sewage treatment plants to cars. “Pretty soon, human-caused N2O emissions will be greater than all other ozone-depleting substances combined,” warned one atmospheric scientist.

CFCs have been all but eliminated thanks to the Montreal Protocol, but N20 isn’t covered by any agreement other than the widely skirted Kyoto Protocol. It’s in that agreement not as an ozone depleter but as a greenhouse gas—it’s 300 times more potent than CO2. “The question is how are we going to reduce these gases,” says the atmospheric scientist. “We need to bridge that gap between science and policy.”

Nitrous Oxide is pervasive in our industrialized lives. It's seen here on a surgical anesthesia machine. (Shutterstock)

Laughing gas is no laughing matter, climate scientists say. (Shutterstock)

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The Latest Ozone Villain: Laughing Gas

Nitrous oxide nothing to chuckle about, climate scientists say

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Canada Slammed for Kyoto Pullout

Canada gov't says fines huge, no real environmental help

Global Carbon Emissions in Biggest Jump Ever

Rising greenhouse gasses will worsen climate change, say scientists

Burning Coal Slowed Climate Change: Study

Sulfur pollution masked effect of CO2 emissions

Arctic Ozone Took 40% Hit This Winter

Up from previous record of 30%

Greenhouse Gas Emissions on Track to Set Record

If economy continues to recover, emissions likely to rise

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The Latest Ozone Villain: Laughing Gas

Nitrous oxide nothing to chuckle about, climate scientists say

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

greenhouse gases • carbon dioxide • Kyoto Protocol • atmosphere • ozone • ozone layer • nitrous oxide • Montreal Protocol

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Canada Slammed for Kyoto Pullout

Canada gov't says fines huge, no real environmental help

Global Carbon Emissions in Biggest Jump Ever

Rising greenhouse gasses will worsen climate change, say scientists

Burning Coal Slowed Climate Change: Study

Sulfur pollution masked effect of CO2 emissions

Arctic Ozone Took 40% Hit This Winter

Up from previous record of 30%

Greenhouse Gas Emissions on Track to Set Record

If economy continues to recover, emissions likely to rise

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

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What is Newser?