Anaesthetic gases have a (small) influence on climate

In a paper published in Geophysical Research Letters, we quantify the influence of anaesthetic gases on global atmospheric radiative forcing. It turns out that inhalation anaesthetics are potent greenhouse gases, with 1 kg of emissions of desflurane (a commonly used anaesthetic) having the influence of around 2,500 kg of CO2. However, emissions of these gases are very low compared to CO2, so the influence on climate is still relatively small.

This paper is nicely summarised in an American Geophysical Union press release, and was picked up by the Daily Mail.

A 6-year-old girl is prepared to go under anesthesia prior to undergoing a hydrocelectomy at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Farah, Afghanistan. A new study finds that anesthesia gases are accumulating in the Earth’s atmosphere, where they make a small contribution to climate change. Credit: ISAF Headquarters Public Affairs Office/Wikimedia Commons — A 6-year-old girl is prepared to go under anesthesia prior to undergoing a hydrocelectomy at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Farah, Afghanistan. A new study finds that anesthesia gases are accumulating in the Earth’s atmosphere, where they make a small contribution to climate change.
Credit: ISAF Headquarters Public Affairs Office/Wikimedia Commons