Nitric Oxide (NO)

Abstract

Nitric oxide plays a significant role in atmospheric phenomena and pollution. It helps to create ozone in the lower atmosphere where it is not needed, and again unfortunately helps to remove ozone from the higher levels of the atmosphere where it is needed. This is the reason that new technology has been fitted to buses to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides. Some years ago, the Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded for the discovery that nitric oxide is a ubiquitous signalling molecule in the cardiovascular system. More recently, it was found that patients who take both nitrates and viagra (sildenafil) pills are at risk. This happens because both pills will increase nitric oxide concentrations, and the resultant drop in blood pressure may be life threatening.