X-From_: tgray  Tue Oct 13 05:29:11 1992
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Date:         Tue, 13 Oct 1992 05:29:13 PDT
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From:         Tom Gray <tgray@IGC.APC.ORG>
Subject:      ENVIRONMENT: Breakthrough in CFC-fr

/* Written 12:50 am  Oct  3, 1992 by newsdesk@igc.apc.org in igc:ips.englibrary
*/
/* ---------- "ENVIRONMENT: Breakthrough in CFC-fr" ---------- */
Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Title: ENVIRONMENT: Breakthrough in CFC-free fridge as ozone hole deepens


an inter press service feature

by candy gourlay

london, sep 30 (ips) -- two days after reports of a deepening of
the ozone hole over antarctica, the environmental group greenpeace
is bringing news of a breakthrough in the development of ozone-
friendly refrigerators.

greenpeace claims a refrigerator cooled by ozone-friendly
substances has been developed by the german manufacturer dkk in
coordination with the greenpeace germany.

dkk -- which begins production of the new refrigerator next year --
received 70,000 orders after publicising its invention to
greenpeace members in germany. some of the orders, they claim,
come from large retail outlets.

the british antarctic survey (bas) research stations faraday and
halley on monday reported that an ozone hole over antarctica
deepened by 40 to 45 percent this spring, the worst ozone
depletion values yet recorded.

scientists blame 1991's massive eruptions by mount pinatubo in
the philippines and mount hudson in chile for the abnormally low
values.

but millions of years of volcanic eruptions have not depleted the
ozone layer as rapidly as man-made chemicals in the 20th century.
chlorofluorocarbons (cfcs), used in refrigeration and air-
conditioning systems, have wreaked ozone holes where prehistoric
volcanic activity have had no effect.

cfcs, used in aerosols and cooling systems, release chlorine
which eats into the layer of ozone protecting the earth from the
sun's ultraviolet rays.

''it's only now that the chlorine-loading of the atmosphere has
been so high,'' says jonathan shanklin, one of the scientists who
spotted the antarctica ozone hole in 1985, ''and though this is a
short-term situation because aerosol-loading will decrease over
the next three years, the chlorine in the atmosphere is still
increasing.''

scientists are yet to completely understand the mysteries of the
stratosphere, he said. ''in the near future, it could still spring
a few surprises on us that would have significant impact on the
human population.''(more/ips)

environment: breakthrough in cfc-free fridge as ozone hole deepen(2-e)

environment: breakthrough (2)

refrigeration is the largest single villain in the battle of
environmental advocates to halt ozone depletions. however
international chemical firms such as ici, du pont and atochem have
until now argued that they have found no alternatives for
refrigeration.

but dkk claims their new refrigerator is cooled by the simple
gases propane and butane, usually used in the ordinary cigarette
lighter. where the traditional refrigerator uses cfc-blown foam
for insulation, the dkk invention uses expanded polystyrene.

''governments have been duped by a chemical industry which has
developed ozone destroying alternatives to cfcs,'' says greenpeace
spokesperson bill hare, referring to hcfcs, a variation of cfcs
claimed to have less impact on the ozone layer by chemical firms.

''the damage likely to be caused by these new chemicals will
occur in the short term, at a time when ozone destruction will be
at its worst from the massive cfc production of the 1970s,'' hare
says. ''we cannot afford for this to happen.''

greenpeace warned that governments do not appear to be serious in
seeking alternatives to cfcs. the ozone hole would be prolonged
for another 20 years if governments failed to take decisive action
at the scheduled november montreal protocol meeting -- which
regulates the use of cfcs.

greenpeace published a report wednesday ''making the right choice
for the ozone layer'' outlining case histories of companies which
have found ways of not using damaging cfcs or hcfcs. greenpeace
hopes to demonstrate that alternative technologies are widely
available and already in commercial use.

bas scientists at the halley research station discovered the
ozone hole seven years ago. though the restrictions of the
montreal protocol are coming into effect, scientists say ozone
holes are likely to appear for many decades.

during winter in antarctica, temperatures in the high atmosphere
(stratosphere) where most ozone is present, drop below 80 degrees
fahrenheit, causing thin clouds to form. when the sun re-emerges
about september, chemical reactions take place in the cloud
particles which destroy ozone. (end/ips/en-st/cg/cpg/92)