Nitrogen trifluoride’s climate-warming effect reportedly could be 17,000 times stronger than that of carbon dioxide, and production of the chemical could double to 8,000 tons next year, according to atmospheric chemist and report co-author Michael Prather.

In reviewing the findings, New Scientist points out that production of LCD screens this year alone could release the equivalent of the global warming emmissions from all of Austria.

Nitrogen trifluoride wasn’t among the six gases covered by the Kyoto Protocol international climate change agreement because its use was insignificant at the time it was drafted.

The switch to digital television in the U.S. over the next several months is expected to create a boom in sales of flat-screen televisions, including LCDs.

Liquid crystal display sets have often been touted as eco-friendly because they consume less power than plasma or rear-projection sets.

Photo: Vladimir Vladimirov - iStockphoto
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