Nitrous oxide, also known as "laughing gas", "proto" or even "balloons", is often abused and harmful to the health of its consumers. Nitrous oxide is a gas often found in whipped cream siphon and aerosol cartridges. However, some abuse it as a psychotropic drug. Although it is not listed as a narcotic substance, its sale to minors is prohibited from June 1, 2021, as it remains dangerous. A study published June 11 in the journal Earth System Science Data shows that emissions of this greenhouse gas are 300 times stronger than emissions of carbon dioxide, contributing to the depletion of the ozone layer in the atmosphere.

The study, which was published as part of the Global Carbon Project – an organization focused on quantifying greenhouse gas emissions – was carried out by 58 international researchers. Nitrous oxide emissions are estimated to have increased by 40 % over the past 40 years. This lesser-known gas than CO2 is mainly associated with agriculture, due to the fertilization of the soil with nitrogenous products. The second major contributor is the chemical industry, where nitrous oxide is used in the production of acids and common equipment.

The main danger of nitrous oxide is its long life in the lower layers of the atmosphere, where its molecules can persist for up to 120 years.

Why is the agricultural sector such a significant contributor to nitrous oxide emissions?

According to the Bloomberg publication, more than 220 million tons of nitrogen are consumed annually as fertilizer on arable land and in the form of livestock manure. The researchers calculated that agriculture is responsible for almost 70 % of human emissions of this gas. An article in the journal GEO explains that when plants are destroyed during harvest, farmers add additional nitrogen in the form of organic matter or mineral elements for subsequent harvests. However, part of this nitrogen escapes into the atmosphere in the form of nitrous oxide.

How to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions?

Although nitrous oxide has been regulated since the Kyoto Protocol, it is not among the priorities of public authorities, which mainly focus on CO2 and methane. A 2013 United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) report suggests several approaches, including for farmers to adopt less fertilizer-intensive production methods and for consumers to reduce food waste, thereby limiting their production. (Co2AI)