China blamed for strange uptick in ozone-eating emissions

摘要

Investigators think they've found the culprit behind a mysterious rise in emissions of a banned, ozone-depleting chemical: China. Plastic foam manufacturers in China are likely responsible for the uptick in emissions of CFC-11, a type of chlorofluorocarbons, according to an on-the-ground investigation. The increase in CFC-11 baffled scientists earlier this year; several countries had phased out production of CFCs starting in 1987, causing emissions to fall and the ozone hole over Antarctica to shrink (E&E News PM, May 16).