Nitrous oxide nuisance sees volunteer take action

New Ash Green resident Dave Vaughan decided to take action after seeing the issue escalate over recent months

A volunteer from Kent has taken action after noticing an increase in nitrous oxide cannisters being left scattered around the village he has lived in for over 40 years.

Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, is used as a painkiller in medicine and dentistry or in catering, for example in whipped cream cannisters.

It has been banned outside specific purposes since November 2023, but is abused recreationally.

Dave Vaughan, who decided to carry out a litter pick of the cannisters being dumped in New Ash Green car park, said it was "a real problem in this area".

It has been illegal to possess, supply, import, export or produce nitrous oxide outside its intended purposes since November 2023

"In the last six months or so there have been these cannisters laying around," said Mr Vaughan.

"On a Friday and Saturday night you get these kids coming down in their cars and parking up, normally on one of the bays which is a bit out of the way."

Having first bought a litter picker to dispose of these cannisters around four years ago, he decided to do the same again in light of this increase.

On one day about a month ago he said he counted 28 cannisters.

A passer-by told BBC South East that the cannisters can also be seen in the surrounding areas, including "all down the little alleyways".

"When we're walking pretty much every Sunday morning it's full of it everywhere to be honest," they added.

Fellow resident Angela, who is involved in the local residents' society, said this went beyond a nuisance issue.

"It worries me that people are using this, and what it's doing to their health," she said.

In a worst-case scenario, inhalation of nitrous oxide can lead to hypoxia, where the brain does not get enough oxygen. This can result in death.

Regular inhalation can also lead to a Vitamin B12 deficiency which can cause nerve damage, degradation of the spinal column and even paralysis.