Nitrous oxide cracking technology in the labour ward to reduce occupational exposure and environmental emissions

Abstract

I read with interest the article by Pinder et al. [1] on the effectiveness of catalytic cracking of nitrous oxide to reduce occupational exposure, greenhouse gas emissions and ozone depletion. The authors note that regulations on occupational exposures to anaesthetic gases may drive the adoption of this (and related) technologies. I would like to point out that the other negative externalities they mention (i.e. greenhouse gas emissions and ozone depletion) are not currently addressed by environmental regulations in most jurisdictions. This lax oversight is difficult to justify, given that other industries are held to much higher standards regarding emissions of similar compounds. While