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Laughing gas is biggest threat to ozone

Nitrous oxide, also called llaughing gas, is now the biggest threat to the Earth's ozone layer, scientists have said. CFCs deplete ozone in the ozone layer, and so does nitrous oxide. According to a study in the US, man-made nitrous oxide is an ozone-depleting substance that replaces CFCs. Unlike CFCs, however, emissions of man-made nitrous oxide are not regulated by international agreement:

"Published: 7:00PM BST 27 Aug 2009

"Nitrous oxide, better known as the dental anaesthetic "laughing gas", has replaced CFCs as 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."......

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