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Ozone depletion
Depletion of Ozone layer, observed over the two poles is being relieved with the implementation of Montreal Protocol.
How do refrigerants deplete the Ozone layer: "Refrigerant 22 (R-22 or MonoChloroDiFlouroMethane, CHClF2) is one of the most common refrigerants and is used in a wide variety of applications such as refrigeration, aerosol propellants, cleaning solvents, and foaming agents for plastics. This refrigerant is believed to be partially responsible for damaging the earth¡¯s ozone layer and it¡¯s use is being phased out over the next two decades. The ozone layer is a result of sunlight reacting with oxygen to produce a layer in the stratosphere more than 10 km above the earth¡¯s surface. As R-22 refrigerant escapes from an AC system through leaks or is released into the atmosphere by other means, the R-22 molecule containing the chlorine atom (¡°monochloro¡±) rises in the atmosphere. Sunlight breaks down the R-22 molecule to yield a free chlorine radical (Cl-). The free chlorine radical combines with ozone (O3), decomposing it into normal oxygen (O2).
AC refrigerants come in many varieties. R-22 is the most common, however, due to interactions with the ozone layer R-22 is being phased out. Refrigerants manufactured as replacements for R-22 are HFC-134a, R-410a, R-410b to name a few. The new refrigerants do not contain the chlorine atom and are not harmful to the earth¡¯s ozone layer."
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- Status of ratification/accession/acceptance/approval of the agreements on the protection of the stratospheric ozone layer, by UNEP, 2002
- Montreal Protocol status
- Successes and ongoing challenges - the international policy response to ozone depletion and its implications for health, by Shevlin, J., 1996
- Montreal Protocol
- The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer as adjusted and/or amended in in London 1990, Copenhagen 1992, Vienna 1995, Montreal 1997, Beijing 1999, by UNEP, 2000