The Montreal Protocol Essay Example

a typical example from this group. Mainly, HCFCs have been used in refrigerants, aerosol propellants and cleaning agents. However, their manufacturing is gradually being phased out due to the Montreal Protocol because of their contribution to ozone layer damage. Another category, called Halons or Halon fire suppressors, are used for extinguishing fires in both extensive systems and portable handheld devices. Production of these was halted in the U.S on December 31, 1993 as they contain bromine which damages the ozone layer more than chlorine does. Based on the current U.S tax code that factors in ozone depletion potentials, halon 1301 and halon 1211 were found to have values of 10 and 3 respectively; these figures form the basis for calculating tax.

Scientific studies have recently indicated that certain substances, namely Carbon Tetrachloride and Methyl Chloroform, possess Ozone Depletion Potentials (ODPs) of 12 and 6 respectively. The frequent application of Carbon Tetrachloride in various industrial activities was particularly noted in the production of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), along with its use as a solvent. Nevertheless, it ceased to be used as a solvent due to its carcinogenic nature. Moreover, it plays a significant role in specific processes by providing chlorine ions for catalysis. It's worth noting that the ozone depletion potential of Carbon Tetrachloride is recorded as 1. On the other hand, Methyl Chloroform is predominantly utilized as an industrial solvent.

Comprising elements like hydrogen, bromine, fluorine, and carbon, Hydrobromofluorocarbons (HBFCs) have an ozone depletion potential of 0.1. Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) also significantly contribute to this issue. Methyl Bromide is another key player in this aspect due to its bromine content which gives it an ozone depletion

potential of 0.6; it's a valuable pesticide for treating several agricultural commodities and soil. But from December 31, 2004 onwards, its production was stopped except for some approved exceptions. Among the mixedhalomethane class is Bromochloromethane (BCM), otherwise known as methylene bromochloride or Halon 1011.

In the middle of the 1940s, German scientists invented a highly concentrated fluid with a refractive index of 1.4808 and low viscosity for use in fire extinguishers. The aim was to replace carbon tetrachloride, which generated dangerous by-products when used on fires, particularly in tanks and aircraft. CBM was implemented as a slightly safer alternative until the late 1960s. In 1969, due to the introduction of more effective and safe options like halon 1211 and 1301, its usage in fire extinguishers was officially banned by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

During the Eleventh Meeting of the Parties for the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, a decision was taken to cease production of materials harmful to the ozone layer starting 1st January 2002. 'Global climate change' is a term used to describe significant shifts in global weather patterns that exceed normal worldwide variations, often caused by human activities. It is important to differentiate between 'global warming', indicating a general rise in global temperature and 'global climate change', which implies potential temperature increases might not be evenly distributed across the world.

Regions worldwide might see increased temperatures, while others could observe a reduction. Shifts in global temperature and rainfall trends, sea levels, ecosystems along with incidences of droughts, floods and storms are connected to alterations in the Earth's atmosphere. The primary cause for these changes

is thought to be an enhanced greenhouse effect. This represents a consistent change in the dispersion of weather patterns over significant timeframes that span from decades up to millions of years, demonstrating global climate transformation.

The term 'climate change', also commonly termed as 'global warming' or 'human-induced global warming', is linked to the alterations in regular weather patterns and changes in the frequency of extreme weather events. These changes might result in either an increase or decrease in severe weather situations. The effects of climate change can be experienced both locally and globally. Presently, 'climate change' is a prevalent term used within environmental policy structures to represent continued shifts in climatic conditions. This phenomenon is globally recognized as anthropogenic climate change.

Biotechnology, a subset of applied biology, involves the utilization of living entities and biological systems in diverse fields such as engineering, medicine, technology among others that require bioproducts. The modern interpretation also encompasses genetic engineering along with technologies associated with cell and tissue cultures. The concept covers a wide array of methods (and their historical backgrounds) focused on altering life forms to cater to human requirements. These alterations can be traced back to actions like animal taming, crop farming and progress made via breeding techniques including artificial selection and hybridization.

Bioengineering is often viewed as a subset of biotechnology, but it puts more emphasis on methods that approach systems at a macro level. These strategies may not always necessitate the direct manipulation or application of biological materials, but instead interact with living organisms. The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity defines biotechnology as:[1] "A technology-based method that employs biological systems, living

entities or their by-products to produce or modify products or processes for specific aims." Biotechnology heavily leans on basic biological sciences like genetics, microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, embryology, cell biology and animal cell culture. Additionally,it frequently demands proficiency and knowledge from non-biological areas such as chemical engineering, bioprocess engineering, information technology and biorobotics. Conversely,the contemporary biological research fields like molecular ecology significantly depend on the protocols established by biotechnology which is usually considered an integral part of the life sciences sector.

Essentially, "Biotechnology" refers to the use of living organisms or their by-products to improve human health and alter our surroundings. Its initial applications can be traced back to ancient periods when yeast cells were employed for fermenting bread dough and alcoholic beverages, while bacteria helped in producing cheeses and yogurts. Additionally, animals with superior productivity levels were selectively bred to further enhance their output.

Over time, our understanding of the multitude of elements effectively utilized by our forebears has significantly developed. This increased knowledge about these components and their cellular results enables us to control different functions of separate cells and species. Techniques like gene splicing and recombinant DNA technology now allow us to combine the genetic parts of two or more living cells.

The possibility of extracting functional DNA strands from one organism and injecting them into another's cells is viable. This procedure can potentially encourage bacterial cells to generate human molecules, for instance. It might also be possible to modify cows in a way that their milk production increases without needing more food. Moreover, we possess the power to fabricate therapeutic molecules, which were non-existent before. Biotechnology has flourished

in various forms since antiquity. The initial understanding by humans that they could cultivate their own crops and domesticate animals signaled the onset of biotechnical utilization.

The beginnings of biotechnology are attributed to the understanding that fruit juices could be converted into wine, dairy products into cheese or yogurt, and beer could be made from blends of fermented malt and hops. Early breadmakers who found out how to make soft, fluffy bread instead of hard flat biscuits were essentially pioneers in the field of biotechnology. Similarly, old-time animal breeders applied biotechnology by recognizing that certain physical traits could be enhanced or reduced through appropriate pairings.