Only 16% of consumers look for "ODS" label before purchasing a product

Dubai, January 26, 2008i: EHS, the Environment, Health and Safety regulatory arm of Dubai World, called upon the public to make sure that perfume products, such as deodorants and antiperspirants, are Ozone-friendly before buying them, simply by looking for the label "CFCs Free" on the label of the product.

Dr. Abdul Monem Al Marzouqi, Manager, Environmental Regulations, EHS, stressed the need to phase out ODS and phase in other environment friendly substances. This, he explained, can be done by identifying the product ingredients, because Chlorofluorocarbons "CFCs" have a detrimental affect on the Ozone layer, the depletion of which allows more ultraviolet radiation to reach the Earth's surface, consequently causing more skin cancer rates, rapid climate changes and disruption to life.

"The survey conducted by EHS with the public on the importance of protecting the Ozone layer revealed that only 16% of the consumers do look for "Ozone Friendly" label on the product before buying it, while 69% of consumers are indifferent to the issue of atmosphere protection and 14% uncertain", Al Mulla said.

The results also showed that 62% of the public support the awareness campaigns conducted by EHS on familiarizing the public with the Ozone layer depletion risks and detrimental effects resulting from using CFCs on the health and the environment. In such campaigns, EHS's primary focus is on various sectors of the society and workers in the industrial sector.

Al Marzouqi said: "The Ozone Layer existing on a height ranging from 20-50 km above the Earth's surface serves as a shield by absorbing ultraviolet rays, especially "UV-B" rays, which are harmful to all forms of life on earth. Overexposure to UV-B rays can be detrimental to our health as well as the health of animals and plants".

Dr. Al Marzouqi also clarified that 67% of people use their own vehicles in their daily trips, in comparison to 27% of people in the survey who carpool. Therefore, urgent action must be taken on the part of the competent authorities to encourage carpooling, eventually reducing the emission of such harmful gases.

The survey also revealed that 96% of the respondents had a good idea about the risks they face as a result of the Ozone layer depletion, and the associated causes of this problem, such as factories, vehicles, electrical appliances and halon-based fire extinguishers, smoking etc.

62% of the respondents confirmed that the future of the Ozone layer is in danger and that this problem is bound to worsen in the future due to the extensive use of "ODS" and failure on the part of several countries to comply with the international conventions banning the import of harmful substances.

Al Marzouqi assured that EHS is keen on applying the highest standards of environmental safety in order to protect human, flora and fauna, the atmosphere as well as marine life which plays a pivotal role in maintaining eco-balance, especially planktons which absorbs CO2 from the air and supply other living beings with Oxygen.

Ozone Advantages:
A whitening material for organic compounds, especially candles and oils. It removes bad odors from food. Used in the manufacturing of Cortisone, and a strong disinfectant used in water sterilization, treatment and purification due to having the feature of killing bacteria and viruses.

Currently it is widely used in the treatment of cancer, neurology, safely activates the body cells by increasing the Oxygen ratio in the cells, thus causing the cells to perform perfectly and increase their immunity to diseases. Bacteria, viruses and cancerous cells are oxidized on contact by Ozone.

-Ends-

© Press Release 2008