Ozone Rebuilding: The EPA Orders Chemical Substitutions in 'Select' Household Appliances

One of the biggest concern to our planet is the destroying of the ozone layer. It’s crucial property is the ability to absorb ultraviolet rays at high altitudes (the stratosphere) from reaching the Earth’s surface, where excessive UV levels can have a destructive affect on living things.

“For people, excessive UV exposure spells out increased risk of cancer and cataracts,” according to research from the Upper Midwest Aerospace Consortium.

Graphic courtesy of www.eduspace.esa.int.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency agrees and says that, “Less protection from UV light will, over time, lead to higher skin cancer and cataracts rates and crop damage. The U.S., in cooperation with 190 other countries, is phasing out the production of ozone-depleting substances in an effort to safeguard the ozone layer.”

The EPA has signed two rules that will reduce the availability and use hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), which are primarily used as refrigerants and harm the ozone layer.

Graphic courtesy of www.eduspace.esa.int.

The EPA and UMAC both agree that in the lower atmosphere, CFCs are stable, nonflammable, low in toxicity, and inexpensive to produce. The problem occurs when they rise to higher altitudes.

The UMAC explains that in the stratosphere, high-energy radiation breaks apart CFCs, releasing an abundance of chlorine at that level. Scientists in both camps agree that one chlorine atom can destroy over 100,000 ozone molecules.

The ozone layer does replenish, but according to scientists, prior to the last decade, it was being depleted faster than it could rebuild itself. Measures taken over the last 10 years, notably steps under the Montreal Protocol, have had the effect of lowering ozone-depleting emissions.

The EPA’s first rule will prohibit the use of HCFC-22 (also known as R-22) and HCFC-142b in the manufacturing of new air conditioning and refrigeration equipment, beginning on January 1, 2010.

In addition, the second rule will prohibit the sale, distribution, and import of air conditioning and refrigeration appliances and components containing both of these HCFCs that are manufactured after the January 1, 2010 date. All such appliances that were manufactured before this date are legal for sale in the U.S.

The EPA is providing an exception to the allocation rule that allows virgin HCFC-22 to be used in the onsite ‘manufacture’ of appliances for projects between January 1, 2010 and December 32, 2011, if the components have been specified for use at a project under a building permit or contract dated before January 1, 2010.

In addition, under the allocation rule, HCFC-22 produced prior to January 1, 2010, may be used until January 1, 2015 for the manufacture of thermostatic expansion valves (TXVs) and medical equipment.

Through its Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Program, EPA has found a number of acceptable alternatives to HCFC-22 that do not deplete the ozone layer. R-410A, an HFC refrigerant blend, is the most common. Some common trade names for R-410A include GENETRON AZ-20®, SUVA 410A®, Forane® 410A, and Puron®. EPA maintains a full list of acceptable substitutes for household and light commercial air-conditioning.

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