Laughing Gas Is Major Threat To Ozone Layer

Hugh Pickens writes "The Christian Science Monitor reports that according to new research, nitrous oxide, the colorless, sweet-smelling gas with a long history as a medical and dental anesthetic is the next big threat to Earth's protective ozone layer. Its role in destroying ozone has long been recognized, as well as its role as a heat-trapping greenhouse gas but the new study puts nitrous oxide's ability to deplete ozone into numbers comparable to those used for other ozone-depleting gases covered by the 1987 Montreal Protocol. The researchers note that the health of the ozone layer has been improving since the adoption of the protocol and that nitrous oxide looms large today as an artificial destroyer of the ozone layer, in part because the emissions of other harmful chemicals have been so sharply reduced." (Continues.) "Globally, Earth's ozone layer has thinned by 5 to 6 percent since 1980, before CFCs and their ilk came into wide use, according to Akkihebbal Ravishankara, who led the study. He and his colleagues note that 6 percent may appear to be a small number, but it still can lead to significant effects on organisms at Earth's surface. The researchers did not make any policy recommendations in light of their finding. 'It is not for us to gauge how much risk there is,' says Ravishankara. In any event, Ravishankara says, at the moment researchers could not say with confidence 'how much nitrous oxide comes from where.'"

Comments

April Fools

[BryanL]

Did April 1st come early this year?

Ozone depletion...

[Anonymous Coward]

Turns out it *is* a laughing matter.

Re:Ozone depletion...

[TriZz]

It's ok, it balances out since laughter is the best medicine!

Re:Ozone depletion...

[Anonymous Coward]

Turns out it *is* a laughing matter.

At least we will all die laughing......

Re:Ozone depletion...

[markdavis]

I have never used nor been on any type of "mind altering" drug in my life (yes, that includes alcohol, recreational drugs, etc) with the exception of once when a dentist used N2O on me to extract four teeth in preparation for braces..

What a *horrible* experience. I fell into a type of paranoid dilution and was absolutely sure they were trying to kill me. I remember it vividly, even though it was 25 years ago. It did do its main job, however... what little pain there was, was kind of "removed" and happening to someone else, in my mind.

Anyway, based on that experience, I fail to understand why ANYONE would call it "laughing gas". To me, "hell gas" or "paranoid gas" would be a better likening. Seems that my experience, while not common, is not all that unusual, either. One thing is for sure, I will never let them use that stuff on me again. I would much rather have the risks carried with being knocked out completely (and that is what was later done when I had my wisdom teeth extracted).

only one solution

[FudRucker]

we must attach bottles of nitrous oxide to our automobiles and burn it up ASAP!

Re:only one solution

[K. S. Kyosuke]

Are you sure you want your car to suddenly start laughing when driving on a highway at 100 mph in the rush hour?

The sad, empty lives of liberals

[Anonymous Coward]

Even laughing gas is no fun.

Oh no

[yttrstein]

Dear Planet Earth:

I'm really sorry for all those whip-its I did in college.

Re:Oh noes

[Anonymous Coward]

Dear Planet Earth:

I'm really sorry for all those whippets I did in college.

Fixed that for you.

(pointing at the sky)

[commodoresloat]

Ha-Ha!

and natural CO2 production is 20x mans

[Shivetya]

but it damn well won't stop the "consensus" train.

The only good thing about N2O is that its not something you can tax the population over, at least directly. Can't wait to see who the N2O bogeymen are going to be.

Re:and natural CO2 production is 20x mans

[Arlet]

Natural absorption is also 20x man's production

Oblig

[suomynonAyletamitlU]

Why so serious?