Ozone Thoughts

 General Information

1. The ozone hole in 2005 was the second biggest recorded: almost as big as 2000
1. The tip of South America experienced 20% lower levels in August-September, 50% lower than normal in October
2. Scientists are finding link between Ozone depletion and climate change
1. Evidence indicates that the two might ‘feed’ off each other and make both problems worse
2. Colder arctic winters => “formation of polar stratospheric clouds” intensify ozone depletion

                                                     i.     Possible Arctic ozone hole in 20 years

3. The ozone layer screens out 99% of harmful UV radiation from the sun
4. Humans have released large amounts of Bromine, chlorine, and other chemicals that deplete the ozone layer
5. Methyl bromide is especially destructive to the ozone layer
1. Bromine = 60 times more effective than chlorine
2. Short atmospheric lifespan, but devastating during that time
6. Solar cycles are only making the problem worse
1. “Solar minimum” in 2007/8 => delay recovery, and trigger increased loss
2. Scientist Martin Dameris

                                                     i.     Says sun cycles have been overlooked by the international community

                                                      ii.     “A recovery is only pretended”

7. “Reducing methyl bromide emissions is the only available strategy to mitigate short-term ozone layer depletion”
8. What is methyl bromide?
1. Agricultural pesticide
2. Pre-shipment and quarantine pesticide
3. Regulated by Montreal Protocol

                                                     i.     Shipping applications exempt

1.     Few regulations

2.     Required for shipment of “wood packaging materials”

a.     New measures greatly increase use

                                                      ii.     Developed countries = phased out by 2005

                                                        iii.     Developing countries = phased out by 2015

                                                       iv.     Existing stocks must be used before more is produced

1.     However, no real information on stockpiles

a.     2005 U.S. imported more methyl bromide than it used

                                                      v.     High levels of production continue

1.     illicit stockpiling

2.     Oversupply

3.     “Dumping” in developed countries

4.     Unreported trade => illegal trade

9. “Critical Use” loophole being exploited by many countries
1. U.S. = biggest user in the world

                                                     i.     Agricultural use = 70% of developed country total

1.     California strawberry, Florida Tomato = 52% of U.S. agricultural use

a.     Claim they are dependent on steady supply

b.     Effective alternatives used in other countries and U.S.

2. Quarantine use = 28% of global application

                                                     i.     Originally, thought small, but is being used more and more

                                                      ii.     Threatens to dwarf other applications

                                                        iii.     Over 50% of all U.S. imports/exports require treatment

10. Harmful effects of ozone depletion on humans
1. Skin cancer caused by UV radiation exposure

                                                     i.     Montreal Protocol controls

1.     Prevent 19 million non-melanoma cases by 2050

2.     Prevent 1.5 million melanoma cases by 2050

                                                      ii.     Currently, 66,000 deaths from skin cancer every year

1.     130,000 new melanoma cases

2.     2-3 million non-melanoma cases

3.     U.S. skin cancer kills someone every hour

a.     1 in 5 will develop skin cancer in their lifetime

                                                        iii.     Dramatic increase of 2 kinds of non-melanoma skin cancer in people under 40

1.     Pursuit of tans

2.     Depletion of ozone layer

3.     Children at increased risk

a.     Physiologically most vulnerable

b.     Spend large amounts of time outside

c.     Skin cancer rates in children increasing

                                                                                                           i.     U.S. Doubled 1982-2002

2. UV radiation more harmful to eyes than previously thought

                                                     i.     One of only effective preventative measures for cataracts is decrease exposure to UV radiation

                                                      ii.     Estimated 167,000-830,000 additional cases of cataracts with depletion of 5-20%

3. UV radiation is also harmful to plants and animals

                                                     i.     UV-B harm chemical and biological processes

1.     Zooplankton and phytoplankton have no defense

a.     Effect early developmental stages, reproduction

2.     Some plants are very sensitive

a.     Reduced height, foliage

11. Environment Canada estimated $224 billion in reduced damage to fisheries, agriculture, materials if Montreal Protocol fully implemented
12. Reluctance of developed nations to phase out methyl bromide is affecting viability of alternatives in developing countries
13. The Environmental Investigation Agency urges Montreal Protocol members to:
1. Not approve further Critical-use exemptions
2. Require transparency of stockpiles
3. Require greater documentation of transport, production
4. Reduce use of methyl bromide in shipping and quarantine purposes