Memorandum:  “U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Analysis of
Refrigerants and Environmental Risk Factors”

Date: March 29, 2010

This table compares various refrigerants and in particular, some of the
environmental risk factors considered by the Significant New
Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program. These factors include:

ozone depletion potential (ODP);

global warming potential (GWP); 

flammability;

toxicity;

contributions to smog;

aquatic and ecosystem effects; and, 

occupational health and safety.

Refrigerant Comparison Table

Refrigerant	Ozone Depleting  Potential (ODP) from 40 CFR Part 82
Appendix A & B	Global Warming Potential (GWP) AR4 and SAR	Atmospheric
Lifetime (ALT) from AR4 expect where notated	Volatile Organic Compound
(VOC)

R-600a	0 	8 a	<1weekb	Yes

R-290	0 	~3 (AR4)	<1weekc	Yes

HCR-188C	0	<5 d   	<1week c	Yes

HCR-188C1	0 	<5 d   	<1week c	Yes

CFC-11	1.0	4,750 (AR4)  3,800 (SAR)	45yrs 	No

CFC-12	1.0 	10,900(AR4)  8,100 (SAR)	100yrs 	No

CFC-13	1.0 	14,400 (AR4)

Not listed (SAR)	640yrs 	No

HCFC-22	0.055	1,810 (AR4) 1,500 (SAR)	12yrs 	No

HCFC-142b	0.065	2,300 (AR4) 1,800 (SAR)	17.9yrs 	No

HFC-134a	0	1,430 (AR4) 1,300 (SAR)	14yrs 	No

R-404A (Blend of 44% HFC-125, 4% HFC-134a, 52% HFC-143a)	0	3,900 (AR4)

3,300 (SAR)

	components range from 14-42 yrs 	No

R-410A (Blend of 50% HFC-32, 50% HFC-125)	0	2,100 (AR4)

1,700 (SAR)

	components range from 4.9-29 yrs 	No

a  SNAP submission, General Electric

b  ICF GE risk screen – Calm and Hourahan (2007) indicate the ALT is
0.019years or about one week

c  ICF GE risk screen – Wuebbles (2003) indicate the ALT of 5- 21days
or about one week

d  HCR-188C SNAP Submission (A.S. Trust & Holdings, Inc. 2007).f  SNAP
submission, General Electric

