Halons

Haloner, Haloner

 Halons is a collective name for a type of hydrocarbon that, besides from carbon, consists of hydrogen, fluorine, bromine and/or iodine¹. These are very stable substances that evaporate easily.

Uses

Halons have mostly been used in fire extinguishers and in certain applications as a cooling agent². Before the negative effects on the environment were discovered, halons were one of the dominating gaseous extinguishing agents on the market³.

The use of halons in Sweden is strictly regulated as these substances have an adverse effect on the stratospheric ozone layer. In Sweden halon fire extinguishers are only allowed in airplanes, helicopters, submarines, combat vehicles and combat control centres in ships or underground⁴.

Sources and transportation pathways

As the use of halons is strictly regulated, there are only a few emission sources. Diffuse emissions may occur from old facilities where halons exist as a cooling agent and from the limited use in fire extinguishers⁵.

Effects on environment and health

Halons comprise a broad group of substances with varying effects on the environment and health. Generally, halons contribute to depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer. A thinner ozone layer contributes to increased radiation on earth. Some halons are also poisonous to aquatic organisms⁶.

Some halons are believed to cause cancer or genetic defects⁷, whereas others may cause skin irritation and severe eye irritation⁸.

International agreements and regulations

Halons are regulated by the UN Montreal Protocol as well as the EU VOC Solvents Emissions Directive (1999/13/EC) and the EU Regulation on substances that deplete the ozone layer (EC 1005/2009). The UN Protocol on PRTRs and the EU E-PRTR regulation regulate how data on halon emissions is made available.

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¹ https://www.msb.se/sv/Forebyggande/Brandskydd/Brandskyddsutrustning/Brandslackare/ 
² http://www.naturvardsverket.se/Sa-mar-miljon/Klimat-och-luft/Ozonskiktet/Ozonnedbrytande-amnen/Amnen-som-bryter-ner-ozonskiktet/
³ https://www.gbgbrandservice.se/produkter/slackmedel/halon-hfc/
⁴ https://www.msb.se/sv/Forebyggande/Brandskydd/Brandskyddsutrustning/Brandslackare/
⁵ http://prtr.ec.europa.eu/#/pollutantinfo
⁶ https://echa.europa.eu/information-on-chemicals/cl-inventory-database/-/discli/details/107203
⁷ https://echa.europa.eu/information-on-chemicals/cl-inventory-database/-/discli/details/107203
⁸ https://echa.europa.eu/information-on-chemicals/cl-inventory-database/-/discli/details/97971