Friday, August 28 2009 - 11:22 AM
Laughing gas is biggest threat to [..BS layer ] ozone layer
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/6101063/Laughing-gas-is-biggest-threat-to-ozone-layer.html

Laughing gas has replaced CFCs as the biggest threat to the Earth’s ozone layer, say scientists.

Published: 7:00AM BST 28 Aug 2009

Nitrous oxide, better known as the dental anaesthetic ‘’laughing gas’’, is now the most potent destroyer of ozone in the upper atmosphere, a study has shown.

Unlike CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons), once extensively used in refrigerators, emissions of the gas are not limited by any international agreement.
‘’The dramatic reduction in CFCs over the last 20 years is an environmental success story,’’ said Dr Akkihebbal Ravishankara, who led the US research. ‘’But man-made nitrous oxide is now the elephant in the room among ozone-depleting substances.’’

The ozone layer shields plants, animals and people from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation from the Sun.

Thinning of the ozone layer can result in damage to crops and aquatic life, and expose humans to a greater risk of skin cancer.

Under the 1987 Montreal Protocol action was taken to phase out ozone-destroying man-made chemicals such as CFCs.

But the treaty did not cover nitrous oxide, which is generated by fertilisers in the soil, livestock manure, sewage treatment, combustion and industry.

Human activities account for about one third of global nitrous oxide emissions. The gas is also produced naturally when bacteria in the soil and oceans break down nitrogen-containing compounds.

Dr Ravishankara’s team from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) calculated the ‘’ozone depletion potential’’ (ODP) of nitrous oxide and found that it was similar to many CFCs.

Writing in the journal Science, the researchers warned that if nothing was done the gas would remain the biggest ozone-depleter throughout the rest of this century.

Curbing nitrous oxide emissions would enhance the ozone layer’s recovery.

Since nitrous oxide was also a greenhouse gas, this would represent a ‘’win-win’’ for both the ozone layer and the Earth’s climate, said the scientists.
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Uh…I call Agenda! While there is no doubt that N02 does exist, and so does the Ozone Layer there is no real evidence that the ozone is better now than it was 20 years ago because we stopped using CFCs so much. This is another “Global warming/change” chicken little claim that will only incite fear aimed at profiting from taxation and restriction of the use of N20 producing products.
While this is out of the UK there is no doubt that the USA will take this and run with it in an attempt to tax our farming, medical and automotive industry for producing N20.

Like Methane last year this is a naturally produced compound that like rain goes from the earth to the sky in normal cycles. It’s almost vain and egocentric to think that as humans we have a measurable impact on this cycle so much so that it will lead to the destruction of the planet.

I don’t use N20 for racing or dental, or even to blow up trucks in populated areas, but I do not like where this could go and how it could really put a damper on a hand full of industries that (in the case of farming) can’t exactly afford another tax or limitation to how they do business.
Long term and short term I just don’t see this as a determent to people or the planet. However I do see that by limiting its use could negatively impact a lot of people.
There is a lot of illegal activity that goes with N20 from human consumption to explosives, but the helpful usages out weight those who misuse it.

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