Just like the Montreal Protocol that phased out
methyl chloroform (CFCs), this amendment (called the Kigali Amendment) to the Montreal Protocol is legally binding.
--Chemical industry that could damage the environment such as Penta chlorophenol, DDT, Dieldrin, chlordane, carbon tetra chloride, CFC, methyl bromide,
methyl chloroform, halon, etc.
The Montreal Protocol stipulates that the production and consumption of compounds that deplete ozone in the stratosphere - chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, carbon tetrachloride, and
methyl chloroform - are to be phased out by 2000 (2005 for
methyl chloroform).
The main factor contributing to the chlorine turnaround was a reduction in the emissions of
methyl chloroform, a cleaning solvent.
In its review of flexible polyurethane foam production facilities throughout the country, the EPA found that this industry sector emits the following hazardous air pollutants: methylene chloride, 2,4-toluene diisocyanate,
methyl chloroform, methylene diphenyl diisocyanate, propylene oxide, diethanolamine, methyl ethyl ketone, methanol, and toluene.
The downward trend is dominated by
methyl chloroform, a relatively short-lived chemical that is expected to vanish from the atmosphere within a decade or so.
* Original Clean Air Act amended; provisions included in Title 6 call for total phase-out of Class I chemicals, including CFCs, carbon tetrachloride and
methyl chloroform.
Also being eliminated are three other sources of damage to the ozone: hydrobrominated fluorocarbons,
methyl chloroform and carbon tetrachloride (They've all got to go by 1996, just like CFCs).
These include CFCs and
methyl chloroform. All of these products are due to be phased out under a series of international environmental accords.