KARACHI, Sept 26: Deputy Director General, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Pakistan), Dr Ejaz Ahmed has told APP that human beings will have to face many threats during the next 46 years due to increased depletion of the ozone layer.

The hole in ozone layer would become 10 times larger by the year 2050, he said, adding that ultraviolet (UV-B) radiation would be doubled in the north and quadrupled in the south in the same places.

A complete and rapid control on substances hastening ozone depletion (ODS) in the stratosphere might help stop the harm by mid-century. The Montreal Protocol, which was signed by various countries including Pakistan on September 16, 1987, has fixed 2005 as a deadline to stop the use of methyl chloroforms.

He said that implications of ODS could lead to 19 million more cases of non-melanoma cancer, and 130 million cases of eye cataract. The senior scientist from Pakistan said that ODS included CFCs that had a life span in the atmosphere of about 20 to 100 years; and that one CFC molecule could destroy up to a million ozone molecules. Bromofluorocarbons (BFC) and methyl were some other main ODSs.

For preventive measures, Dr Ejaz suggested the government engage students and scientists in research on this issue to find a good alternative. Government and inter-governmental organisations like the United Nation's Industrial Development Organisation, and the UNDP should also launch well-targeted awareness campaigns.

The scientist proposed 100 per cent immediate switching over to new machinery for funded programmes despite the fact that the Montreal Protocol agreement allowed gradual phasing out until 2010.

Dr Ejaz also urged for allocating funds that assured an effective development of local solutions according to specific needs. He said that CFCs used for refrigeration could be replaced with HCFCs and HFC-134 A, R-600a and natural refrigerants. - APP