Most Firms Still Harming Ozone Layer, Group Warns

Although some major corporations are making significant cuts in their use of three ozone-destroying chemicals, “the vast majority of companies have yet to take any concrete steps to phase them out,” a private environmental group said Tuesday.

The Natural Resources Defense Council produced industry figures showing that more than 200 million pounds of the three chemicals had been released into the atmosphere by more than 3,000 companies in 1987. The figures were the latest comprehensive statistics available. More than 300 companies also provided more up-to-date information by responding to questionnaires sent by the group.

The chemicals examined by the group are methyl chloroform and CFC113, both of which are widely used as metal-cleaning solvents, and carbon tetrachloride, used in the United States primarily in the manufacture of chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs.

The council said it was issuing its report in hopes that Americans would use the information to pressure companies to stop using ozone-depleting chemicals and find substitutes.

Among those reported to be cutting their use of the chemicals was IBM Corp., one of the biggest users of CFC113 three years ago. The company reduced emissions of the chemical at three plants in California, New York and Minnesota by nearly one-third from 3.3 billion pounds in 1987 to 2.3 billion pounds in 1988. Its emissions of methyl chloroform also declined, from 1.6 million pounds to 1.2 million pounds, figures from the environmental group show.

The group’s list named IBM’s San Jose plant as the top emitter of CFC113 in 1987. Other California companies named for producing that pollutant were Bentley Laboratories Inc. of Irvine in 16th place and Du Pont Antioch Works of Antioch in 20th.

Listed as the 15th-largest producer of methyl chloroform was Northrop Aircraft Division of Hawthorne.

At No. 23 on the list of carbon tetrachloride producers was Dow Chemical of Pittsburg, Calif.

Elsewhere, Pratt & Whitney, the aircraft-engine manufacturer in East Hartford, Conn., reported cutting emissions of methyl chloroform from 1.9 million pounds in 1987 to 420,000 pounds in 1988.

In Parlin, N.J., Hercules Inc. spewed nearly 900,000 pounds of carbon tetrachloride in 1987 and 1988. But the company said it stopped using the chemical in August, 1989.

Scores of smaller companies reported increases in emissions.

Government and industry have acknowledged that the CFCs, including CFC113 used as a solvent, and carbon tetrachloride should be phased out and expect their elimination by the middle or latter part of the decade.

But methyl chloroform, whose potency for ozone destruction is less than 15% that of CFCs, remains unregulated and is viewed by much of industry as a potential “bridge” chemical as companies stop using CFCs as solvents.

SOURCES OF CHEMICAL EMISSIONS These companies in California were listed as among the largest emitters of chemicals that damage Earth’s protective ozone layer: IBM in San Jose was the largest producer of CFC113 at 1,470,000 pounds. But figures show the company’s emissions of the chemical have declined since 1987.

Northrop Aircraft Division in Hawthorne was No. 15 on the list of methyl chloroform producers with 845,000 pounds emitted.

Bentley Laboratories in Irvine ranked 16th for CFC113 production at 356,535 pounds.

Du Pont Antioch Works in Antioch was 20th on the CFC113 list with 347,000 pounds emitted.

Dow Chemical in Pittsburg was listed 23rd for production of carbon tetrachloride with 45,300 pounds emitted.

Source: Natural Resources Defense Council