Nitrous oxide inside the cells, by a process catalyzed by the enzyme nitrous oxide reductase. Nitrous oxide has significant global warming potential as a greenhouse gas. On a per-molecule basis, considered over a 100-year-period, nitrous oxide has 298 times the atmospheric heat-trapping ability of carbon dioxide (), however, because of its low concentration (less than 1/1000 of that of ), its contribution to the greenhouse effect is less than one-third that of carbon dioxide, and also less than water vapour and methane. On the other hand, since 38% or more of the entering the atmosphere is the result of human activity, and
Recreational use of nitrous oxide to be sold for human consumption, 'food grade' nitrous oxide canisters, made for the purpose of prolonging the shelf life of whipped cream and other products are completely legal, and anyone can buy these without a permit. Recreational use of nitrous oxide Recreational use of nitrous oxide is the inhalation of nitrous oxide gas for its euphoriant effects. The gas is sometimes called Whippets, Laughing Gas, the Epiphany Drug, or Hippy Crack. In Australia, nitrous oxide bulbs are known as nangs. Nitrous oxide is a dissociative inhalant that can cause analgesia, depersonalisation, derealisation, dizziness, euphoria, and some sound distortion (flanging).