Aerosol curbs loom nearer for N.Z.

Press, 12 November 1977, Page 4

Aerosol curbs loom nearer for N.Z.

Parliamentary reporter

The Department of Trade and Industry will make a detailed survey of fluorocarbon use in aerosols and refrigerators as a result of a Government-sponsored seminar just ended in Wellington.

The seminar was told that 43 per cent of fluorocarbons used in New Zealand were in hairsprays and deodorants.

The seminar was called by the department to discuss the threat to the environment posed by fluorocarbons and was attended by 30 delegates — representing manufacturers, industries, the Health Department, the Commission for the Environment, the D.S.I.R. . and the Meteorological Service.

Fluorocarbons released into the air are believed to be eroding the ozone layer which protects the Earth from harmful ultra-violet radiation.

The chairman of the seminar (Mr M. R. Morrison) the departments director of chemical industries at trade and industry) said yesterday that the detailed study would start next year.

It was clear, he said, that a great change in public attitudes had to take place if aerosols containing fluorocarbons were to be phased out.

“Would the public be prepared to swat flies rather than spray them with an aerosol can, for example?” However, empowering

legislation might be introduced in New Zealand. Manufacturers said they would prefer a voluntary change away from fluorocarbon usage, and said that a change was already taking place. The use of hydrocarbons in aerosols increased 400 per cent last year, and there was no increase in the use of fluorocarbons.

But problems are being encountered in alternative propellents for aerosols, because of their flammability, and their poorer performance.

Mr Morrison said a report was now being prepared by the Department of Trade and Industry for the Minister (Mr Adams-Schneider) and a combined report might be compiled later by all the Government departments involved The seminar was also told that proposed legislation prepared by Government agencies in the United States called for a warning by next year on all aerosol cans containing fluorocarbons, and the banning of aerosols containing fluorocarbons by 1979. New Zealand was dependent on fluorocarbon supplies from overseas, said Mr Morrison, and it was important to development of alternatives to prepare for a possible cut in these supplies.

The seminar was told that no satisfactory substitute had been developed to replace fluorocarbons in domestic and industrial refrig erators. However, manufacturers were urgeid to keep the leakage of fluorocarbons from refrigeration and air

conditioning equipment to a minimum, and to consider the recovery of the chemicals for recycling when old equipment was scrapped.