Laughing gas is a big threat to ozone layer
A study published by scientists from US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) finds that Nitrous Oxide (N2O)is now the leading ozone-depleting substance released into the atmosphere by humans.
Nitrous oxide is popularly known as Laughing gas, but with its increasing role in depleting ozone layer this is no laughing matter. 
© NOAA
This is the first study to explicitly calculate the role of Nitrous Oxide in depleting ozone layer using the same measures that have been applied to CFCs, halons and other chlorine- and bromine-containing ozone-depleting substances.
Besides natural cause of releasing Nitrous Oxide in the atmosphere, the human activity accounts for at least a third of the total amount of release. The main sources include soil fertilization, livestock manure, sewage treatment, combustion and some industrial processes. It needs another CFC-ban kind of measure to control the effect of Nitrous oxide on Ozone.
Read more about this story in
- New Scientist:> A good informative article Laughing gas is biggest threat to ozone layer
- The Guardian:> No joke: Scientists call for stricter controls on emissions of laughing gas
- Scientific American:> Laughing Gas No Laughing Matter in Atmosphere
- TIME magazine:>Laughing Gas: The Latest Threat to the Ozone Layer
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