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OZONE
DEPLETION:
Consumption of
ozone-depleting
substances
The
stratospheric
ozone layer protects
the planet from
ultraviolet radiation.
The release of
certain manmade
chemicals containing
chlorine and
bromine damages
the ozone layer,
 resulting
in harm to human
health and the
environment.
The main ozone-depleting
substances include
chlorofluorocarbons
(CFCs), halons,
methyl chloroform,
carbon tetrachloride,
hydrochlorofluorocarbons
(HCFCs) and methyl
bromide. These
chemicals are
used in refrigeration
and air conditioning
equipment, aerosol
sprays, fire
extinguishers,
foamed plastics
and pesticides.
Potential
health impacts
arising from
damage to the
ozone layer include
sunburn, skin
cancer, eye cataracts
and reduced efficiency
of the immune
system. Environmental
damage may be
inflicted on
crops, trees
and animals,
particularly
phytoplankton
and zooplankton,
the tiny plants
and animals living
in the surface
layers of lakes
and oceans.
A
series of international
agreements, beginning
with the Vienna
Convention for
the Protection
of the Ozone
Layer (1985)
and the Montreal
Protocol (1987),
establish a timetable
for phasing out
the production
and consumption
of ozone-depleting
substances.
Canada’s
OECD Ranking22
Despite commendable
progress, Canada
ranks 13th among
the 16 nations
for whom the
OECD has data
on the per capita
consumption of
ozone-depleting
substances. In
large part this
is due to uneven
provincial laws
and regulations
governing the
consumption and
release of ozone-depleting
substances.
Canada
deserves credit
for the fact
that it no longer
produces CFCs,
halons, carbon
tetrachloride
or methyl chloroform.
However, Canada
still produces
HCFCs and consumes
0.18 kg of CFCs
and HCFCs per
person, twice
the OECD average.
Only the United
States and Korea
consume higher
levels of these
ozone-depleting
substances. In
many European
nations, consumption
of CFCs has virtually
reached zero.
Trend
Canadian consumption
of CFCs dropped
76% between 1986
and 1995, while
Canadian consumption
of HCFCs increased
76% in the same
time span. It
should be noted
that although
HCFCs have only
two to five percent
of the ozone-depleting
potential of
CFCs, they still
have a long-term
impact on the
ozone layer.
Under international
agreements, HCFCs
are to be phased
out by 2020.
Overall, according
to Statistics
Canada, Canadian
production of
ozone-depleting
substances fell
from 27.8 kilotonnes
in 1987 to 1.0
kilotonne in
1996.23
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