CFC Pollution & Politics

Presented by ‘The Antaeus’ Mainak Krishna Sinha

Saikat Biswas

Srijita Mitra

Aninda Nath

Samiran Santra

What is CFC?• Chlorofluorocarbons, commonly known as CFCs, are a group of man-made compounds containing chlorine, fluorine and carbon. They are not found anywhere in nature.

• The production of CFCs began in the 1930s for the purpose of refrigeration. Since then they have been extensively utilised as propellants in aerosols, as blowing agents in foam manufacture and in air conditioning.

• As in simpler alkanes, carbon in the CFCs and the HCFCs is tetrahedral. Since the fluorine and chlorine atoms differ greatly in size and effective charge from hydrogen and from each other, the methane-derived CFCs deviate from perfect tetrahedral symmetry.

• The most important reaction of the CFCs is the photo-induced scission of a C-Cl bond: CCl3F → CCl2F. + Cl

• There are no removal processes or sinks for CFCs in the lowest part of the atmosphere called the troposphere. As a result they are transported up into the stratosphere, between 10 to 50 km above the Earth's surface, where they are broken down by ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun, releasing free chlorine atoms which cause significant ozone depletion.

Sources of CFC• The most common emitter of CFCs are refrigerants, particularly those used after the 1930s.

• Gasses containing CFCs were used for a long time as components in aerosol cans and propellant liquids.

• Aviation regulations in some countries still require fire suppression systems outfitted with Halon, a coolant containing CFCs.

• As refrigerants and aerosol cans containing CFCs become older and more obsolete, people tend to forget about them, leaving them eventually to leak and further contaminate the atmosphere.

• Chlorofluorocarbons are far less abundant than carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, but they are 10,000 times more powerful as a greenhouse gas and can remain in the atmosphere for more than 45 to 100 years.

Effects of CFCs• Direct exposure to some types of CFCs can cause unconsciousness, shortness of breath,and irregular heartbeat. It can also cause confusion, drowsiness, coughing, sore throat, difficulty breathing, and eye redness and pain. Direct skin contact with some types of CFCs can cause frostbite or dry skin.

• CFC cause the breakdown of the ozone layer that protects the earth from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

• The depletion of ozone layer causes UV rays to enter earth’s atmosphere which in turn causes skin cancer, cataracts and other eye damage.

• It is harmful on its own in large enough dosage Overexposure maycause dizziness, loss of concentration, Central Nervous System depression and/or cardiac arrhythmia.

Steps Taken to Stop CFC Emission• The Montreal Agreement of September 16, 1987, laid down rules for the phasing out of the production and use of CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons). Every country in the world agreed and ratified this, the only time this has happened in history.

• By checking labels for CFCs and choosing other products without CFCs as an alternative can most certainly prevent further CFC damage to our environment.

• Electronic appliances emit CFC even when they are not in use. So always unplug the electronic instruments when they are not in use

• Replace your old refrigerators and air conditioners as they are the major contributors of CFC in the atmosphere.

• Prefer buying energy-efficient appliances like fluorescent bulbs

• Plant trees, as they absorb UV rays greatly and thus protect the environment.

The Montreal Protocol• The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (a protocol to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer) is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous substances that are responsible for ozone depletion.

• The treaty was opened for signature on September 16th, 1987, and entered into force on January 1st, 1989, followed by a first meeting in Helsinki, May 1989.

• The treaty is structured around several groups of halogenated hydrocarbons that have been shown to play a role in ozone depletion. • As of 29 December 2012, all countries in the United Nations, the Cook Islands, Holy See, Niue and the supranational European Union have ratified the original Montreal Protocol[15] (see external link below), South Sudan being the last country to ratify the agreement, bringing the total to 197.

• Since the Montreal Protocol came into effect, the atmospheric concentrations of the most important chlorofluorocarbons and related chlorinated hydrocarbons have either leveled off or decreased.

Current & Future Level of CFC

False-color view of total ozone over the Antarctic pole. The purple and blue colors are where there is the least ozone, and the yellows and reds are where there is more ozone. Measured in 12 September 2011.

Illegal Trade in CFCs Since January 1, 1996, consumption of newly produced CFCs has been banned in developed countries. Stockpiling of previous years' production was allowed, however, so that older equipment, such as car air conditioners built before 1993 could continue to be used. Because of the established needs of the developing countries, production of CFCs has continued in the U.S. (for export) as well as in countries like India, China, and Mexico. Currently, China, is responsible for nearly 40% of the world's production. With high demand and low availability of CFCs, prices have risen and a black market has developed. Freon purchased in Mexico can be sold in the U.S. for up to 10 times its original cost. A group called "Ozone Action" estimates that 150,000 tons of CFCs was produced worldwide in 1996, and that 10,000 tons was smuggled into the U.S. These numbers seem high, but as recently as 1986, 900,000 tons of CFCs was produced. The US Justice Department is getting tough on smuggling. Twelve individuals in four U.S. cities were indicted in January, 1997 for smuggling CFCs into the U.S.

CFC Production in India• India is now the world's largest producer and smuggling source of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC), the gas that has created holes in the earth's ozone layer.

• Thanavat Junchaya, UNEP's regional network coordinator for its CFC project, said: "India now produces almost all the CFC that is still being produced in the world, and the amount it officially exports is frequently far lower than the amount reported by other countries to be imported from India.

• India and South Korea are the two major manufacturers of CFC. UNEP estimates these two countries now account for over 70 per cent of global CFC production, which has come down from a million tonnes a year to 50,000.

• Rajendra Shende, chief of OzonAction in UNEP, said: "Through a number of initiatives like the Customs-Ozone Enforcement Networking Project and the Project Sky-Hole- Patching, countries' environment, ozone and customs authorities exchange information on the movement (of CFC). This has enabled countries to take action."

• But CFC smuggling will remain an issue as long as substitutes continue to cost more and equipment using CFC are available, Shende said.

INDIAN ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATIONS

• The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986• The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, i974, as amended up to 1988• The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act 1977, as amended by Amendment Act, 1991• The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, as amended by Amendment Act, 1987• National Forest Policy, 1988 Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980• The National Environment Tribunal Act, 1995• The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991• Re-cycled Plastics Manufacture and Usage Rules, 1999 • Manufacture, Use, Import, Export and Storage of Hazardous Micro-Organisms Genetically Engineered Organisms or

Cells rules, 1989 • Hazardous Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 1989• Bio-Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998 • Municipal Solid Wastes (Management & Handling) Rules, 2000 • Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 • Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulatio) Rules, 2000 • New Biodiversity Bill - 2000 • The Prevention and Control of Pollution (Uniform Consent Procedure) Rules, 1999

Our Special Thanks to

www.google.com

www.wikipedia.org & Shubhashish Sir

www.wiki.answers.com