Emissions of Anesthetic Gases Cause Negligible Warming
Frits Byron Soepyan, William Happer, Gregory Wrightstone
December 2024
Abstract:
There is a growing concern in the medical industry regarding the emission of anesthetic gases, such as sevoflurane, nitrous oxide, isoflurane and desflurane, into the atmosphere, because these anesthetic gases are greenhouse gases. To determine if these concerns are sensible, we compiled the information regarding the properties of these anesthetic gases, such as their concentrations and radiative forcing, to predict the temperature rise caused by the continued emissions of these gases. Based on our estimates, the continued emissions of nitrous oxide (both non-anesthetic and anesthetic), sevoflurane, isoflurane and desflurane would cause a combined temperature increase of about 0.032 °C in 50 years and of about 0.064 °C in 100 years. Such a rise in temperature is negligible and cannot be measured or felt. Therefore, curbing the emissions of anesthetic gases into the atmosphere is unnecessary and would have minimal effect on the climate. Given this conclusion, the selection of anesthetic gases should be based on the health and safety of the patients, rather than on a purported environmental benefit.
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