Disbursement of EU Grant Funds to ARIA

On Monday June 10, 2013, The Minister of Planning and Sustainable Development as the National Authorising Officer of the European Union Grant Funding held a press conference to commemorate the disbursement of over $400,000TTD in grant funding among five NGOs and the Vet-Med, UWI at the La Lune Room, Level 20, and Eric Williams Financial Complex.

The Air- Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry Association of Trinidad and Tobago (ARIA) was one of the NGOs to receive European Union  (EU) grant funding.  ARIA has been a long time and valuable stakeholder of the NOU; partnering with the Unit on numerous occasions including training of the air-conditioning and refrigeration sector on alternatives of ODS and best practices, the TPMP and the successful phasing out of CFCs and its current work on the HPMP.  In light of this, two members of the NOU; Mr. Javed Lakhan and Ms. Anastasia Gordon, attended the press conference in support of ARIA.

The EU Grant Funds were used to support the Re-training Session for the air-conditioning and refrigeration sector in good refrigeration practices. Training technicians in the industry is essential for the wise use and prevention of  the incidental release of refrigerants into the atmosphere.  ODS need to be safely recovered (not vented into the atmosphere) from equipment during maintenance operations by a trained technician through the use of recovery and recycling equipment. 

L-R: Mr. Kenneth Boodoo, President, ARIA, receiving grant funds from the Ms.  Arlene McComie, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Planning and Sustainable Development and Ms Daniela Tramacere, Charge d'Affaires, EU Delegation.

EU Grant Fund Awardees including Mr. Kenneth Boodoo, ARIA (3rd from the left) with the Senator, Dr. the Honourable Minister Bhoendradatt Tewarie (4th from the right) and Ms. Arlene McComie, Permanent Secretary, both from the Ministry of Planning and Sustainable Development.

Free Sensitization in Hydrocarbon Refrigerant in Domestic and Commercial Refrigeration June and July 2013

The Impact of Ozone Depletion on Biodiversity

Ozone Protection through the Eyes of our Youth

What consumers should know to safely handle ozone depleting substances

Use of ODS

 

Ozone depleting substances (ODS) destroy the ozone layer and are commonly found in refrigerators, air conditioners, fire extinguishers, dry cleaning products, solvents for cleaning electronics and as agricultural fumigants.  Examples of ODS are chlorofluorocarbons (CFC), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) methyl bromide and carbon tetrachloride.  Certain properties (e.g. stability and non-toxicity ) make ODS ideal for many uses.  Also, many ODS are also greenhouse gases, so reducing the use of ODS is particularly important to small island developing states (SIDS) such as Trinidad and Tobago.

What consumers should know when…

 

Buying a refrigeration or air condition unit: 
Ask the salesperson if the refrigerant is ozone friendly.  Consider buying an air condition unit that does not have ODS as it is better for the environment and it would be easier to access the refrigerant needed to service the equipment.  Also consider other features such as energy use which is indicated by an energy star rating.

Servicing a refrigeration or air-condition unit:
Consider retrofitting the equipment to replace the ozone depleting refrigerant with something less harmful. If retrofitting is not an option, ensure that the refrigerant is not vented and recycled if possible.

Using methyl bromide for fumigation:
Alternatives are available for methyl bromide in many circumstances, so ask your pest control technician.

The legal responsibility of consumers 

The Litter Act makes it illegal to improperly dispose of items.  There should therefore be proper disposal of items that use ODS.  The ODS should be safely recovered from the equipment by a trained technician through recovery and recycling equipment. 

How to identify personnel trained to safely handle ODS

Check with technicians to learn if they have been trained in good refrigeration practices. Trained technicians do not release gas/refrigerant into the atmosphere, but trap it in gas cylinders. 

 

Consumer guidelines for the safe handling of ODS

• Avoid buying products with ODS
• Ask your supplier if there are products that do not use ODS or other components  (like substances that cause climate change) that harm the environment.
• Look for technicians that have been trained to handle ODS
• Ask technicians if they have been trained in good refrigeration practices.
• Limit the use of methyl bromide
• Do not use methyl bromide in soil, structural and electrical fumigation.
• Safely dispose of products that use ODS
• Air conditioning and refrigeration units: Contact a technician to recover refrigerant before disposal of equipment.
• Metered dose inhalers (MDIs): Do not use inhalers that use CFCs.

The link between ozone depleting substances and skin cancer

What is Skin Cancer?

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer. It destroys and replaces normal skin cells and tissues and, in some cases, can spread to other parts of the body. Most skin cancers start in the outer layer of the skin.

What causes skin cancer?

Skin cancer is caused most often by overexposure to the sun and its ultraviolet (UV) rays. Overexposure includes:

• Occasional intense sunlight exposure during childhood that causes severe sunburn and blistering
• Extensive sunlight exposure over many years
• Artificial sources of UV radiation, such as tanning beds or sunlamps

Skin cancer usually affects the head, neck back, chest, shoulders.

How will I know if I have skin cancer? 

• A change in the skin, such as a growth
• An irritation or sore that does not heal
• Change in a wart or mole 

 

The role of the Ozone Layer  

Ozone is a natural susbstance which forms a thin layer known as the ozone layer found in the upper atmosphere. This ozone layer helps to filter UV radiation. Excessive unfiltered UV radiation caused by a damaged layer can lead to skin cancer.

What increases my risk of developing skin cancer? 

• Light skin colour (though persons with dark/pigmented skin are also at risk
• Having skin that freckles easily 
• Frequent, severe sunburns 
• Living in the tropics

 

 How to identify skin cancer?

• Remember the ABCs when checking your moles!
• Asymmetry: half of the mole does not match the shape of the other half
• Border (edges): the edges of the mole are not smooth
• Colour: the colour of the mole is uneven
• Diameter: the mole's diameter (width) is larger than a perncil's eraser
• Evolving: any change in a mole's appearance

 How can cancer be prevented?

• Spend less time in the sun, seek the shade
• When outdoors cover up; use hats, shoes, long pants and long-sleeve shirts
• Protect your eyes with wrap-around UV sunglasses
• Wear sunscreen to block UV-A and UV-B rays with an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of at least 15
• Avoid UV rays from artificial sources, such as tanning beds or sunlamps
• Children's skin is more sensitive than adults' and sunburn more easily, therefore it should be even more rigorously protected
• Babies under one (1) year old should be kept out of direct sunlight