Assessing the impact on global climate from general anesthetic gases

TY - JOUR

T1 - Assessing the impact on global climate from general anesthetic gases

AU - Andersen, Mads Peter Sulbæk

AU - Nielsen, Ole John

AU - Wallington, Timothy J.

AU - Karpichev, Boris

AU - Sander, Stanley P.

PY - 2012/5

Y1 - 2012/5

N2 - Although present in the atmosphere with a combined concentration approximately 100,000 times lower than carbon dioxide (i.e., the principal anthropogenic driver of climate change), halogenated organic compounds are responsible for a warming effect of approximately 10% to 15% of the total anthropogenic radiative forcing of climate, as measured relative to the start of the industrial era (approximately 1750). The family of anesthetic gases includes several halogenated organic compounds that are strong greenhouse gases. In this short report, we provide an overview of the state of knowledge regarding the impact of anesthetic gas release on the environment, with particular focus on its contribution to the radiative forcing of climate change.

AB - Although present in the atmosphere with a combined concentration approximately 100,000 times lower than carbon dioxide (i.e., the principal anthropogenic driver of climate change), halogenated organic compounds are responsible for a warming effect of approximately 10% to 15% of the total anthropogenic radiative forcing of climate, as measured relative to the start of the industrial era (approximately 1750). The family of anesthetic gases includes several halogenated organic compounds that are strong greenhouse gases. In this short report, we provide an overview of the state of knowledge regarding the impact of anesthetic gas release on the environment, with particular focus on its contribution to the radiative forcing of climate change.

U2 - 10.1213/ane.0b013e31824d6150

DO - 10.1213/ane.0b013e31824d6150

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0003-2999

VL - 114

SP - 1081

EP - 1085

JO - Anesthesia and Analgesia

JF - Anesthesia and Analgesia

IS - 5

ER -