Flatulence environmental impact

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [2]

Impact[edit | edit source]

Environmental Impact[edit | edit source]

Flatulence is often blamed as a significant source of greenhouse gases owing to the erroneous belief that the methane released by livestock is in the flatus.^[1] While livestock account for around 20% of global methane emissions,^[2] 90 to 95% of that is released by exhaling orburping.^[3] This means only 1–2% of global methane emissions come from livestock flatus.

Social Impact[edit | edit source]

In many cultures, human flatulence in public is regarded as embarrassing and repulsive, even to the point of being a taboo subject. People will often strain to hold in the passing of gas when in polite company, or position themselves to conceal the noise and smell. In other cultures it may be no more embarrassing than coughing. Flatulence is a potential source of humor, either due to the foul smell or the sounds produced. Some find humour in flatulence ignition, which is possible due to the presence of flammable gases such as hydrogen and methane, though the process can result in burn injuries to the rectum, anus and surrounding buttocks. While the act of farting is generally considered to be an unfortunate occurrence in public settings, a flatus may, in casual circumstances, be used as either a humorous supplement to a joke, or as a comic activity in and of itself. The History of Farting, by Benjamin Bart, is a collection of assorted limericks, facts, and blurbs on farting, while Who Cut the Cheese: A Cultural History of the Fart, by Jim Dawson, gives a more complete cultural discussion of the historical and social significance of farting.

References[edit | edit source]

Template:WH Template:WS