It is well known that Ozone is a form of Oxygen which is a man-made pollutant in the troposphere, but a naturally existing as a benevolent layer in the stratosphere, 15 to 40k.ms above the earth surface. This Ozone layer shields the earth from ultra violet radiation. It is a peculiar gas that is considered to be 'good' or 'bad' depending up on its location in the atmosphere.
The depletion of Ozone layer occurs due to certain substances that are used in refrigeraters, air conditioners, fire extinguishers, foam blowers, spray products and solvents used in cleaning application. These Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) include mainly the Chloroflurocarbons and Halons like CFC-11, CFC-12, CFC-113, Halon-1211, Carbontetrachloride and Methyl chloroform.
A single Chlorine or Bromine atom is capable of breaking 1,00,000 molecules of Ozone. As the depletion affects the human being and eco system, there is a great concern all over the world to protect the Ozone layer and the Montreal Protocol was signed on September 16, 1987 for phasing out the ODS. The Protocol has paved way for the substitute chemicals for the replacement of ODS and still research is going on for more non-toxic alternatives. With a view to assist the developing countries in phasing out, a Multilateral Fund has been created. This will finance the incremental cost of the ODS phasing out in developing countries.
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Sanjeev Paul |
India became a part to the Protocol only in 1992. The Government of India has taken a number of policy measures to encourage early adoption of non ODS technologies. The financial institution have stopped funding new investments with ODS technologies from 1995 itself. The Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India has recently notified the Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 on 19.7.2000. The Ministry has also set up an Ozone Cell which is a focal point for coordinating with the industries to prepare the data on ODS consumption or production or import and export of ODS every year.
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Mr. Charles Rodriques, Environmental Engineer, who is looking after the Ozone Monitoring Cell in the Pollution Control Board of Tamil Nadu at Chennai says that in about 55 industries that are consuming ODS are identified in the State. They have been advised to follow the schedule for phasing out ODS in accordance with the national strategy. New industries are not permitted to use ODS.
The Protocol specifies that the production and the consumption of CFCs and Halons to be reduced to 50 percent by2005, 85 percent by2007 and 100 percent by2010. Phasing out of ODS in Industries gain momentum in leading companies like Manali Petrochemicals Ltd. at Chennai. Dr.R.Rajan, senior manager R&D confirms that the work on elimination of CFCs in production of polyurethane foams started in 1993. The work got accelerated after the interactions with officials from World Bank and Montreal Protocol Executive Committee in 1994. MPL has developed and commercialised water blown system for the manufacture of PU foam for 2 wheelers and 4 wheelers seat application. He is hopeful that if all countries completely phase out consumption of ODS, the layer would regain its pre-1980 levels in the year 2050 as predicted.
The air conditioners and refrigerators contribute to the depletion.
But to attract the tourists and business houses and also to keep
abreast with the international competition, the hotels have to
provide these facilities to the customers. How then the phasing out
of ODS takes place? Sajeev Paul (pic), the Chief Engineer of Chola
Sheraton, explains the success story. They have recently introduced
environmental friendly screw chiller 250 TR, which uses not CFC gas,
and coats Rs.65 lakhs. This has got zero Ozone depletion effect. The
cold storages and deep freezers have been converted similarly. They
have stopped using all CFC type room fresheners. Five years back,
all halon extinguishers were replaced. Now The Welcome Group is in
the process of planning for an Ozone infusing system for the
swimming pool instead of the traditional chlorinating system.
The Center for Environmental Education at Ahmedabad, has developed an information package to facilitate better understanding of the elements involved in protecting the Ozone layer, which will be useful to teachers, NGOs and school children. Shyamala Krishnan of the Centre says that domestic activities also contribute to the depletion of Ozone. We could reduce the release of CFCs from the house by minimizing the use of high pressure spray cans (perfumes), handling refrigerators and air conditioners with more care so that minimum repairs are required. Traditional cotton pillows and mattresses could be used instead of foam. Styrofoam glasses and plates and plastic foams used for furniture and insulators are also to be reduced.
The latest satellite observation in the sunlight portion of the Antarctica perimeter show an average decrease of about 30 per cent in the total amount of Ozone overhead when compared to the 1964-76 norms under these circumstances. What is the role of the individual in protecting the Ozone layer? Learn to be `an Ozone friendly person'. Being Ozone friendly means taking individual action to reduce and eliminate impact on the Ozone layer by the products that we buy, the appliances we use and the action we do. Even a homemaker can responsibly dispose the old refrigerator and become Ozone friendly. The Ozone layer protects us like an umbrella. If the Ozone hole gets broader and broader, is there any craftsman in the world to mend the hole?
