LCD TVs, praised as being greener than old-style tellies because they consume much less power, may actually be speeding climate change, a chemical expert has warned. ...a study claims that atmospheric quantities of the gas Nitrogen Trifluoride (NF3) are booming. NF3 is 17,200 times better at trapping heat in the atmosphere over a hundred-year period than is carbon dioxide, the best known greenhouse gas. NF3 has a characteristic moldy smell and is thought to be highly harmful to the liver and kidneys.
The chemical is used in the production of flat-panel displays which, in turn, are used to make today's TV screens. Prather believes that exploding demand for HD TVs around the world has created a huge need for NF3, and that's sending emission levels sky high.
The problem is, NF3 emission levels aren't being measured on the list of gases that should be tracked because at that time the compound's manufacture was miniscule.
