| Nitric acid is one of the top chemicals in production | | | | Nitrous oxide is a natural occurring gas in the |
| around the world. Its primary application is in the | | | | atmosphere as a result of the nitrogen cycle but it is |
| manufacture of nitrogen-based fertilizers. It is also | | | | the rate at which its concentration increases and the |
| used in explosives, metallurgy, dyes, plastics, and | | | | factors which contribute to this increase that worries |
| pharmaceuticals. Other minor applications include | | | | scientists and environmentalists. One of the greatest |
| water treatment, fibers and polymers manufacture, | | | | factors which most of them have seen is the |
| liquid-propellant for rockets, printmaking, and nuclear | | | | anthropogenic sources such as nitric acid |
| fuel reprocessing. | | | | manufacturing plants. |
| Human-influenced sources may account for as much | | | | Greenhouse effects cannot be ignored anymore. |
| as 40% of the total NOx released into the | | | | Climate change is upon us. The weather has become |
| atmosphere. The laughing gas, nitrous oxide (N2O), is | | | | even more unpredictable than before. Studies have |
| approximately accountable to 7% of the greenhouse | | | | also identified that the main cause of this |
| gases. The concentration of nitrous oxide in the | | | | phenomenon are unchecked and negligent human |
| atmosphere has significantly increased from the | | | | practices. |
| pre-industrial period as compared in the last two | | | | As a result of industrialization, comforts have been |
| decades. | | | | afforded to us, such as electricity, transport, and |
| As a waste by-product of nitric acid production, | | | | other luxuries we now enjoy. But this comes with a |
| oxides of nitrogen (NOx) are very harmful to the | | | | price, the warming up of the planet. |
| environment and they can also aggravate the effects | | | | Is this really worth it? Can we really afford the |
| of climate change. Emissions from nitric acid | | | | unpredictability of the weather today, the increase in |
| manufacturing plants may not be as significant as | | | | intensity of natural disasters? The world has certainly |
| those of combustion of fossil fuels but a small | | | | begun to experience the effects of the accumulation |
| difference in the levels of nitrogen oxides released | | | | of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere by the |
| into the atmosphere will mean a big difference since | | | | higher than normal temperatures, the melting of the |
| they are very harmful greenhouse gases. | | | | polar ice caps and the rising sea levels. |
| Biofuels are also contributors to nitrous oxide. | | | | We have to make a move now. A move to reduce |
| Contrary to popular belief, a report from the | | | | our impacts on the environment, this especially goes |
| International Council for Science (ICSU) concludes | | | | to those who are in the position to make a significant |
| that biofuel production can aggravate global warming | | | | change in reducing nitric acid production by-products. |
| rather than alleviating its effects. The theory is that | | | | Owners and managers of plants and companies which |
| annual plants and crops such as corn, wheat and | | | | use nitric acid must have proper processing and |
| sugar cane take up carbon dioxide during their | | | | disposal strategies which are environment friendly. |
| growth. Hence, fuels burned from them have no | | | | But the responsibility doesn't stop there. We must do |
| significant carbon dioxide emissions to the | | | | our part as well. We are also stakeholders therefore |
| atmosphere. | | | | we have to take responsibility. One thing is for sure |
| The same study also supported an earlier finding | | | | though, we have to start today. This is because of |
| which determined that nitrous oxide has a more | | | | the fact that the planet will continue to warm up for |
| harmful effect on the environment and the climate | | | | no less than 150 years due residence time of carbon |
| change phenomenon than previously believed. The | | | | dioxide, nitrous oxide and other greenhouse gases in |
| ability of nitrous oxide in warming up the planet is 300 | | | | the atmosphere. It will take a long, long time before |
| times more than carbon dioxide. It also stays longer | | | | the climate becomes stable. |
| in the atmosphere. | | | | |