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Nitrous oxide sources - Transport

a car exhaustThe increased use of catalytic convertors in cars around the world has led to concerns about the increase in transport related nitrous oxide emissions which might result.

However, although catalytic convertors in cars can lead to an increase in nitrous oxide emissions of around 20 times that of comaprable vehicles without catalytic convertors, global emissions from this source are thought to be relatively small. Indeed, advances in catalytic convertor technology have led to significant reductions in nitrous oxide emissions in recent years.

Current estimates range from 110 to 240 thousand tonnes of 'transport related' nitrous oxide-N emission per year, though with rapidly increasing global car use, nitrous oxide emissions from this source may rise in the future. Additional nitrous oxide emissions arise from other forms of fossil fuel powered transport, such as planes, boats and lorries.


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