nitrogen dioxide

noun

Updated on: 13 Apr 2018

Definition of nitrogen dioxide

: a toxic reddish brown gas NO₂ that is a strong oxidizing agent, is produced by combustion (as of fossil fuels), and is an atmospheric pollutant (as in smog)

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Recent Examples of nitrogen dioxide from the Web

Diesel engines are the main emitters of nitrogen dioxide, which causes respiratory problems and has been linked to premature deaths.

— karin matussek, Bloomberg.com, "German Court Puts Millions of Diesel Cars at Risk of Bans," 27 Feb. 2018
Diesel engines emit small particles and nitrogen dioxide that have been linked to cancer and more than 12,000 of premature deaths in Germany, experts say.

— katrin bennhold, New York Times, "In Germany’s Car Capital, the Unthinkable: The Right to Ban Cars," 27 Feb. 2018
Butler said that because diesel vehicles are the leading contributor to nitrogen dioxide emissions, banning them in heavily polluted areas makes sense.

— Washington Post, "German court opens the way for bans of diesel vehicles, roiling a nation of car obsessives," 27 Feb. 2018
The German government proposed the free public transportation scheme to encourage people to leave their cars at home, thereby reducing nitrogen dioxide emissions and particulate matter.

— deutsche welle, USA TODAY, "Germany considers free public transportation in most polluted cities," 14 Feb. 2018
Three German car makers appear to have commissioned or supported a study in 2014 which exposed monkeys and humans to exhaust fumes and nitrogen dioxide, according to German media reports on Monday (Jan. 29).

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "3 German automakers backed study that exposed monkeys and humans to toxic exhaust fumes," 29 Jan. 2018
Diesel engines are the main emitters of nitrogen dioxide, which causes respiratory problems and has been linked to premature deaths.

— karin matussek, Bloomberg.com, "German Judge Sees ‘Clear Duty’ to Meet EU City-Pollution Limits," 22 Feb. 2018
There’s also a great app called Haze Today, which tracks the air quality index in real time — that’s ground-level ozone, particle pollution, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide, all of which can affect your health.

— hiroko tabuchi, New York Times, "Using Technology to Be Environmentally Friendly," 20 Dec. 2017
Burning coal releases sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and other pollutants into the atmosphere.

— laura g. shields, Science | AAAS, "Did air pollution cause a deadly Chinese landslide?," 12 Dec. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'nitrogen dioxide.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.