7.7.2008 3:10 PM

Chemical Used in LCD Screens Found to Be Global Warming Gas

NF3, Used in Making Flat Screen TVs, Harms the Climate: Scientists

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Man watching a plasma tv. A 42-Inch Plasma TV Can Use As Much Energy as a Refrigerator

Photo: Alex Gumerov / Istock

By Brian Clark Howard

While we just reported that some scientists think television watching might be a factor contributing to autism among children, that's not the only bad news to befall the old tube. Turns out a chemical used in making flat-screen televisions has been found to be a potent greenhouse gas, 17,000 times stronger than carbon dioxide.

In a study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, atmospheric chemists warn that nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) used in liquid crystal displays (LCDs) may be contributing to global warming. The researchers calculated that if all the NF3 produced in 2008 were released, it would have as much warming effect as 67 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, or about the same as the annual CO2 emissions of Austria, according to Grist.

This latest finding is another example of technology being a double-edged sword, since LCDs require less energy, and produce less radiation, than the old CRT tubes. Hopefully the industry will begin to look further into this issue as soon as possible (perhaps they will address it as part of the green LCD TV label efforts). In the meantime, try not to break your LCDs, and make sure your electronics get properly recycled when you are done with them.

Get tips to make e-waste recycling easier here.

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