Recreational drug-use as an urban source of nitrous oxide

N2O is a potent greenhouse gas which also contributes to depletion of stratospheric ozone. Its primary sources are from natural and agricultural soils and from the ocean. However, other minor sources exist, including industrial processes, combustion processes in the power generation sector and road transport. Very few atmospheric measurements of these minor sources of N2O exist in the urban environment, particularly in the UK. Nonetheless, they are essential in understanding anthropogenic emissions of N2O. A custom-built automated sampling system was used to make high-frequency measurements of N2O, along with SF6, CO and H-2 at an urban site in the city of Bristol, United Kingdom (UK), from 3rd November 2019 to 26th November 2021. These time-series data provide an insight into urban N2O mole fractions, diurnal cycles, and possible sources of N2O during a period of time affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The data show a pattern of elevated N2O mole fractions during the late evening and early morning hours on weekends, with no significant correlations with other measured species, indicating the apparent use of N2O as a recreational drug. The National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI) reports UK emissions for recreational N2O drug use of 12-14 tonnes between 2012 and 2020. We derived a much larger estimate of 89-954 tonnes for the year 2020 using revised estimates of the size of canisters used, the mass of N2O in each canister and the number of times the drug is used at each sitting.

Automated summary

This article reports on high-frequency measurements of nitrous oxide (N2O) in the city of Bristol, UK, from November 3, 2019, to November 26, 2021. The data show elevated N2O concentrations during late evening and early morning hours on weekends, with no significant correlations with other measured species, suggesting the use of N2O as a recreational drug. The estimated emissions from recreational N2O use in the UK were 12-14 tonnes between 2012 and 2020, while a much larger estimate of 89-954 tonnes was derived for the year 2020 with revised estimates of canister size, N2O mass, and frequency of drug use.