CONTENTS                                                  May-Jun 2002

THE SCIENCE OF OZONE LAYER
Mini ozone holes pose health risk  Ö Antarctic plants resist ozone hole Ö GHGs slow down ozone layer recovery  Ö Southern hemisphere ozone layer may recover by 2040  Ö Ozone depletion faster at higher latitudes

ODS PHASE-OUT IN INDIA
Skills and equipment in CFC-free service  Ö HIDECOR project experiences Ö Demand for equipment supply in the RAC service sector

IN THE NEWS
UNEP launches compliance assistance programme  Ö 2002 Stratospheric Ozone Protection awards  Ö International symposium on alternative refrigerants  Ö Responsible use principles for hydrofluorocarbons Ö Ban on ODS in Bangladesh  Ö Geothermal heat pumps based on R-410a  Ö Import of CFC MAC  Ö On-site monitoring to control CFC quota production  Ö New substitutes added under SNAP programme

INVENTIONS/NEW PRODUCTS
Pentanes as blowing agents in PU foam production  Ö New anti-asthmatic product  Ö Carbon dioxide-based dry cleaning system  Ö Non-ODS fire extinguisher

R&D IDEAS
Methyl bromide alternatives  Ö New fumigation technology Ö Misting systems

FUMIGANTS
Growers fight floral pests  Ö Eliminating insects from stored grain Ö Composting helps crops  Ö New grain fumigant

REFRIGERATION/AIR-CONDITIONING
Non-fluorocarbon refrigerators  Ö Eco-friendly vending units  Ö Variable speed screw chiller  Ö New R-410a compressor

FOAMS
New blowing agent  Ö Eco-friendly plastic foams

ODS RECYCLING/DISPOSAL
Recycling refrigerators that use CFC/FC/pentane/butane  Ö Cooling unit treatment plant  Ö Purge system for refrigerants

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

CATCHING UP WITH EVENTS