Human breath also contributes to global warming.

The authors argue that the role of human breathing in climate change has been underestimated and requires further study.

Specifically, after measuring the gas composition in the breath of 328 study participants, researchers concluded that human breath accounts for 0.05% of the UK's methane (CH4) emissions and 0.1% of its nitrogen oxide (N2O) emissions.

The study notes that both of these gases “have a much higher global warming potential than carbon dioxide (CO2).”

The research team, led by atmospheric physicist Nicholas Cowan at the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, noted: "We advise caution in assuming that human emissions are negligible."

Mr. Cowan explained that while "the contribution of CO2 in human breath to climate change is essentially zero" because plants absorb almost all of it, the two aforementioned gases still remain in the atmosphere.

Methane retains 80 times more heat than CO2 during its first 20 years in the atmosphere. A detailed analysis of the test subjects' diets yielded no indication that meat-eaters produced more gas. While all test subjects exhaled nitrous oxide, only 31% exhaled methane.

These individuals—referred to as "methane producers" in the paper—are more likely to be female and over 30 years old, although the researchers could not determine why.

The authors caution that their study only considered breathing and call for further research into the overall picture of human emissions. Further research could reveal more about the "impact of a growing population and changing diets" on the planet.

Minh Hoa (compiled from Tuoi Tre and Lao Dong newspapers)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/hoi-tho-cua-con-nguoi-cung-gop-phan-lam-trai-dat-nong-len-a640835.html