Table Of ContentMinistry of Environment and Energy
Solvents and sterilants regulated
With thepassingofOntarioregulations717/94 and SOLVENTS
718/94, theprovince hassetcontrolson virtuallyall
ofthesubstancesthatdestroytheozone layer. OntarioRegulation717/94bans theproductionof
Earlierthisyear, thegovernmentmoved to solventscontainingClass 1 andClass2 ozone-
control halonsused infireextinguishersand depletingsubstances (ODS)asofJan. 1, 1996and
chlorofluorocarbons(CFCs) usedasrefrigerantsand Jan. 1,2000respectively.
inairconditioners, including thosein automobiles. Class 1 ozone-depletingsubstancesdestroy the
Priorto thatOntariobanned theproductionand ozone layermorequicklyand lastlongerin the
saleofaerosolsand plasticand packaging foamas atmosphere thanClass2 substances. Inbothcases,
well asrigid insulation foamcontainingCFCs. theozone-destroyingprocesscaused byreleasing
The tvy^onewregulationsphaseoutthe CFCs, halonsand HCFCslasts40to more than 500
production, useand transferofsolventsand years. Theregulationalso:
sterilantscontainingCFCs, halons, • bansthedischarge,useortransferofsolvents
hydrochlorofluorocarbons(HCFCs), carbon containing specificClass 1 and Class2 ODSafter
tetrachlorideand methylchloroform. July 1, 1996andJan,1,2000,respectively;
• bansthestorageofsolventscontainingClass 1
and Class2 ODSafterJuly 1, 1998andJan. 1,
BACKGROUND
2002,respectively;
Tshoemeoz1o5nteol5a0yekriliosmleotcraetsedabinovtehetuheppeearrtahtamnodsphere • OreDquSirsetsoraedreapfotretrJfourlyso1l,v1e9n9t6s,caonndtasionlivnegntCslass 1
shieldsitfrom thesun'sultravioletrays. Ultraviolet containingClass2 ODSstored afterJan. 1, 2000,
tobeavailableonrequestbythe Ministryof
radiationhasbeen linked toskincancerandeye
Environmentand Energy;
cmaattaerraicatls.ssItuicshkansowwonotdoahnadrmplaasntiimca.ls,cropsand • exemptssolventscontainingClass 1 and 2ODS
Scientificevidencehasshown theozonelayeris whichareused forresearchon substances
whichdestroytheozonelayerorwhichare
beingdestroyedatanalarmingratebyspecificman-
madechemicals. A total of 137countries including converted toanothersubstance whichdoes not
Canada have now signed theMontreal Protocol harm theozone layer.
This regulationoverridesconditionsincluded in
which promotes theend ofsubstancessuchas
CFCs, halonsand HCFCs thatattack theozone existingcertificatesofapproval forsolvents
containingQass 1 and 2ODS.
layer.
Ontario was the firstprovince toregulate
substances whichdestroy theozone layer. With
,
regulations717/94and 718/94 inplace,Ontario
todayhas themostcomprehensiveprogramin
Canada tocontrol substanceswhichattack the
ozonelayer.
Q
Ontario PIBS 3315E
PBINTIDON
RECYCLfDPAPER
WHERE THESE SOLVENTS ARE USED WHERE THESE STERILANTS ARE USED
Generallyspeakingindustries use thesesolventsin Thesesterilantsare used mainlyinhospitalsto
a varietyofcleaningprocesses, includingdry sterilize medical devices. The sterilantisamixture
cleaning. About85 percentofthe methyl of12percentethyleneoxideand 88 percentCFC-
chloroform and 97jjercentof theCFC-llS used in 12,and isusually referred toas 12/88.
Ontario areused by theelectronicsand metal NeitherCFC-12 nor theequipmentwhich
industries for precisionand general cleaning.These sterilizesinstrumentsismadein Canada.
solventsarealsoused in theproductionof About 120 tonnesofCFCswereused inOntario
adhesives, paintsand inks. hospitalsin 1993 forsterilizingmedicaldevices. In
InOntario,anestimated 5,000 tonnesofmethyl addition tohospitals, whichaccountforalmost98
chloroform, 160 tonnesofCFCsand 214 tonnesof per centof the total numberofsterilizers in the
carbon tetrachloride wereused insolventsin 1992. province, pharmaceutical companies, privateand
Therearealternativeclearungchemicalsand provincial medical laboratoriesand a veterinary
technologies which companiessuchas IBM Canada hospital inGuelphalsouse sterilantscontaining
Ltd., NorthernTelecom Ltd., Litton Systems substances which deplete the ozonelayer. Thereare
Canada Ltd., XeroxCanada Ltd. and 3M Canada about 360sterilizerunitsinOntario which use the
Inc. alreadyuse. ethyleneoxideand CFC-12 nuxture, 12/88.
Thereare alternatives to these sterilants which
somehospitals in Ontarionow use. Further, the
STERILANTS
Ontario Hospital Associationand theCanadian
OntarioRegulation718/94 prohibits the Hospital Association arelooking intoalternative
production, use, dischargeand transferofsterilants technologies forsterilizingmedical devices.
containing specificClass 1 and Class2 ozone-
depleting substancesafterJan. 1, 1996andJan. 1,
2000 respectively. Further,théregulation:
• prohibitsthestorageofsterilantscontaining
Class 1 and Class 2 ODSafterJan. 1, 1998and
Jan. 1, 2002 respectively;
• requiresa repxjrt for sterilants containingClass
1 ODSstored afterJan. 1, 1996and sterilants
containingClass 2 ODS stored afterJan. 1, 2000
tobeavailable on requestbythe Ministryof
Environmentand Energy;
• exempts sterilantscontainingClass 1 and 2 ODS
which are used forresearchon substances
whichdestroy theozone layerorwhichare
converted toanothersubstance which is nota
Class 1 or2 ODS;
Thisregulationoverridesconditionsincluded in
existingcertificatesofapproval forsterilants
containingQass 1 and 2ODS.
