According to a report in, Inside Climate News, an environmental awareness publication, eleven plants in China manufacturing nylon are responsible for an annual release of 500,000 metric tons of nitrous oxide. This is a potent greenhouse gas approximately 250 times more damaging to the ozone layer than carbon dioxide.  Nitrous oxide is produced during synthesis of adipic acid as a by-product. This compound is a component of nylon 6,6 used in automobiles. The nylon used in air bags, tires, car seats and other items in a vehicle represent 970 kg of carbon dioxide equivalents, exceeding the 900 kg of greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production of the steel used in a U.S. vehicle.

Release of nitrous oxide can be suppressed at low cost, applying existing technology. Among U.S. plants, Ascend Performance Materials plant in Cantonment, FL. is a generator of nitrous oxide since it has ineffective pollution control in contrast with other adipic acid plants in Europe, Japan and South Korea.  The EPA is faulted for not exercising its legislative authority to regulate nitrous oxide emissions and to require the Ascend plant to reduce greenhouse gas release.

Why is the EPA concerned over dust and ammonia emissions from layer houses but is ignoring an obvious source of severe environmental pollution?