Day 011 - 12 Jul 94 - Page 58


     
     1   MR. JUSTICE STEEL:  You are not discovering the source of the
              universe, are you, Professor Duxbury?
     2        A.  Not unless it is associated with the chemistry of
              pentane.
     3
         MISS STEEL:  In any event, the end result of using pentane as a
     4        blowing agent whether indirectly or directly, is to
              produce more greenhouse gases?
     5        A.  If the pentane escapes into the atmosphere it will
              provide a very minor amount of greenhouse gas.  It has to
     6        be set in the context of the fact that in London you have
              a large number of automobiles which are exuding
     7        hydrocarbons related to pentane which are actually
              contributing a far, far greater percentage of carbon
     8        dioxide than will ever come out of the pentane blowing
              process.
     9
         Q.   That was a "yes" anyway?
    10        A.  It is "yes" but a qualified "yes."
 
    11   Q.   I think I have just a couple more questions.  You were
              mentioning about photo chemical smog which I think you
    12        were saying is the more common effect of pentane.  In your
              statement you refer to it causing extensive damage to
    13        orchards, that is right, is it not?
              A.  Yes.
    14
         Q.   It is right as well, I think, that it can have a harmful
    15        effect on people, for example, asthmatics?
              A.  Yes.
    16
         MR. MORRIS:  Has the number of skin cancers predicted after it
    17        became known the effects of CFCs and ozone depletion, has
              there been predictions about the possible increase of skin
    18        cancers in the world?
              A.  I do not know.
    19
         Q.   The prediction about the ozone layer recovery, how
    20        confident are you of those predictions?
              A.  Quite confident, because the amount of coupling
    21        between the stratosphere and the tropisphere is known from
              meteorological observations, and that means that the
    22        residence time of things in the stratosphere and how long
              they will take to come back into the tropisphere is, in
    23        fact, fairly well understood.
 
    24        The main uncertainties are the residue of the
              chlorofluorocarbons in the tropisphere and how long they
    25        will continue going into the stratosphere.  The recovery
              process, I think, is well understood and, in fact, will be 
    26        very long. 
  
    27   Q.   The CFCs were first suspected to cause damage to the ozone
              layer in 1974, is that correct?
    28        A.  In 1974 Molina and Rowland postulated that they might
              cause damage.
    29
         Q.   In 1978 are you aware that CFCs in aerosols were banned in
    30        America by Congress?
              A.  I am aware of it.

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