The use of laughing gas as an intoxicant has become increasingly common, which poses problems. Many of the bottles are dumped in regular trash and end up in district heating plants' combustion chambers, where they explode in the heat and cause costly production stops. There is also a risk that personnel may be hit by an exploding tube that shatters a syringe, something SVT News Stockholm was the first to report on.
Stockholm Exergi has had twelve unplanned production stops at its facilities so far this year - a doubling compared to last year. Half of the stops are estimated to be caused by laughing gas bottles that have exploded.
In the boiler, burned-out bottles are found that have smashed the boiler's walls, says press chief Fredrik Persson to TT.
The entire country
Each production stop can cost between five and ten million kronor in lost production. And it's not just the Stockholm area that's affected.
We've spoken to Göteborg Energi, Sysav in Malmö, and Tekniska verken in Linköping, and they've also seen a doubling of the number of unplanned stops, says Fredrik Persson.
The four companies together account for a quarter of the district heating market, and their additional costs for stops due to exploding laughing gas bottles are estimated to be 100 million kronor.
It's reasonable to assume that the problem is just as big across the country, and then we're talking about additional costs of several hundred million kronor, says Fredrik Persson.
Ban on sales
The government has received a proposal to ban the sale of laughing gas to minors and for intoxication purposes.
A ban can certainly partially solve our problems, but it may take time before a law is in place. An alternative is to ensure manufacturers' responsibility for waste or for municipalities to introduce local regulations prohibiting the use of laughing gas in public places, says Fredrik Persson.
Laughing gas is used in healthcare, including during childbirth.
The use of laughing gas as an intoxicant has become increasingly common. Mainly, it's young adults aged 20–30 who inhale the gas and get injured. But younger people are also trying it.
Short-term use can lead to fainting or frostbite when inhaled directly from the tube. In the long term, laughing gas can cause vitamin B12 deficiency, leading to nerve damage, blood clots, and psychoses.
Source: The Poison Information Centre
