LCD Chemical 17,000 Times More Harmful Than CO2

Looks like LCD monitors might not be so green after all. Nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) was found in a recent study to have a global climate impact 17,000 times greater than that of CO2. NF3 is found in the LCD panels of cell phones, computer monitors and televisions as well as in semiconductors and synthetic diamonds. It’s being called the ‘missing greenhouse gas’ as it’s not currently being monitored by the Kyoto Protocol.

From the Environmental News Network:

What kind of impact is this suppose to have, you ask? The chemical is found to stay in the atmosphere for 550 years and there is no force of nature known to remove it. This year, nitrogen trifluoride emissions are expected to have an impact equal to Austria’s CO2 output. Production of the chemical may double in 2009. The study points to a number of NF3 manufacturing facilities opening up in the US, Korea, and China. The production increase is due in part to the switch to digital television which will lead to increased LCD consumption and the disposal of older sets, some of them early LCD models.

LCD monitors have long been presented as environmentally friendly, particularly next to lead-laden, energy inefficient CRT models. According to ENERGY STAR, they consume half to two-thirds the energy of CRTs. Heat output is also less, leading to lower air conditioning bills. Some companies have gone even further to lessen the environmental impacts of their LCD displays. Lenovo has nearly a dozen EPEAT gold certified displays to offer and Phillips made news with their Eco TV in April. Though the use of mercury and arsenic have been of concern to the environmental and human health, LED-backlit display technology has begun to address these issues.

It’s not known just yet how companies will respond to this. The cost of engineering their products to emit less NF3 would be expensive, and experts think that consumers might have a hard time swallowing a price increase. As the Environmental News Network points out, measuring the NF3 levels in the environment might be enough to spur an outcry.

Link [ENN]
Photo credit: Flickr user laffy4k

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