The war in Ukraine could cause a shortage of nitrous oxide and helium, possibly leading to more costly and painful procedures, Fortune reported June 2.
Five things to know:
1. Russia and Ukraine are large suppliers of the two elements needed to create nitrous oxide and helium, ammonium nitrate and natural gas.
2. A shortage of these supplies could lead to more costly and painful procedures such as root canals.
3. Wally Hopp, PhD, a professor at Ann Arbor-based University of Michigan who specializes in the medical supply chain, said the shortages are years in the making but were not addressed early enough by the U.S. government.
4. ECRI, a nonprofit focused on healthcare quality and cost, ranked supply chain shortages as the second-most-pressing health hazards in 2022.
5. The shortages affect other areas of healthcare as well, including body scanners and other medical machines.