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Hydrofluorocarbon Emission Related To Outdated Machinery – An Anaylsis of HFC Related Problems and Solutions

The fact that we have been using HFC products for years is not really a problem. We have needed HFC for a variety of reasons and particularly we have needed it for cooling and refrigeration. Since the early 1990's and late 1980's many environmentalists have done studies on the effect (if any) of HFC on the global environment. What many scientists have found that there are some causation's, but the focus should not necessarily be just on fluorocarbon's but also the family to which this substance belongs. Thus, the amounts of these fluorocarbon's have attributed to the Ozone level depletion but there are more causations as well. First, we must understand the nature behind HFC. The substance is part of a group of chemicals called Haloalkane's and utilized in many applications such as flame retardants, fire extinguishers, refrigerants, propellants and solvents. Since the 15th century, human civilization has known the effect of these Haloalkane's, so there is a long tradition and development of these substances. It is important to note that there have been many studies on the changes in environment depending on HFC and related chemical substances. However, the Earths Ocean’s also release haloalkane by naturally occurring methane process, primarily named bromomethane around 1 to 2 million tons annually. Therefore, there is a stipulation that there are naturally occurring sources of haloalkane's and the process is not a very rare one. Thus, the issue of Ozone depletion enters the equation.

The Ozone layer is a relatively small constitute part of the Earth's atmosphere, although it accounts for a large protection measure. It works to absorb the UVB (ultra-violet band, radiation) emitted by the Sun at regular naturally occurring intervals. It is important for the Earth to keep this measure, without the Ozone layer to act as shield against UVB radiation the chance of humans getting cancer will exponentially increase. Therefore, we have concluded that the Ozone layer is important to the health of humans. Also, we have stated that UVB radiation comes from the Sun and is a naturally occurring thing. The problem therefore is a recurring "hole" in the Ozone layer, first seen in 1956 by G.M.B Dobson (British meteorologist and physicist). Since then the Ozone "hole" has been studied and various things have been stipulated within respects to its formation. The hole itself constitutes the description where all Ozone layers become essentially destroyed, thus the depletion is seen. This hole covers the Antarctic zone. As of recent studies the hole in the Antarctic zone has Ozone saturation levels of around 33% (not 0). The primary reason for this hole is as follows: all things, which create gases that form chlorine compounds, are released into the atmosphere at some time in the period of the Earth's history. Before humans were capable of doing this, the Earth's ecology was the only source of these occurring elements. Since humans have added to this, there has been an increase in the amount of chlorine gases that have been released into the atmosphere. Thus, any chlorine related gases are the cause of this depletion. It is important to note that the hole is not actually a hole, but an area where there is less Ozone. How this process takes place is through the association and presence of UV light. When any chlorine gas is released into the atmosphere, it can take up to 15 years for it to reach the altitude required to react with the Ozone layer. After this amount of years, when it reaches that point the chlorine related gases react with the Ozone molecules and UV light. When this action takes place with the help of UV, these gases release the chlorine atoms, which go on to catalyze ozone destruction. This catalyzed depletion process mainly takes place with the reaction of the gases, but also in the stratospheric clouds of the polar region.

The decrease in the ozone layer typified by this process was earlier introduced in the 1980's and researchers have found out that roughly around 7% of depletion happens over a 60-year period. Since many people have had a concern about this process, many steps have been taken to ensure we are able to fix or negotiate better things. For example, the Montreal Protocol (a treaty to phase out substances that are produced by humans that eliminate Ozone), which has made great strides to protect the Ozone layer. These substances (as stipulated as the human related chlorine gases) have lead to good results. Researchers have noticed that there has been a significant lowering of these concentrations in the atmosphere and most of it is on the decline. The amounts, which peaked in 1994, have been dropping off since this Montreal Protocol. The total figure we can assume is around 10% and in the future we might even seen more of an increase in helping the Ozone layer. Scientists have hopes that by the elimination of these gases the Ozone layer can be fixed to complete recovery by 2015. Obviously, naturally occurring elements will remain, like previously stated methane releases by the oceans.

Therefore, what we have found is that we are fixing the problem and that our concerns do not have to be easily feared, but instead researched and solutions found. What we also find is that by our awareness we are more motivated to fix problems like this. Many companies are replacing their outdated machines with new ones, sleeker designs and more "green" friendly units. Whatever the case, we can be assured that outdated components are never good machines anyway. If we look at the shopping malls and retail outlets that carry vending machines, we see that these machines are sleek, new and technology inclined. They are designed to fit the needs of the people and the environment because for years they have not been a major problem to emit CFC's, since the Montreal Protocol has stipulated that we use more "Earth friendly" chemicals.