Use of MT-31 and MT-31-1 Prohibited Under EPA's SNAP Program

Ozone Protection Hotline (800) 296-1996

What are MT-31 and MT-31-1?

chillers
vending machines
ice machines
air conditioners

MT-31 was deemed acceptable as a substitute for CFC-12 (and HCFC-22) by EPA's Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Program on June 3, 1997. Since that date, EPA has become aware of potentially adverse health risks from overexposure to a chemical contained in MT-31 and MT-31-1.

Why is EPA regulating substitute refrigerants?

The purpose of the SNAP Program is to review alternatives to ozone depleting substances (ODSs). EPA only lists as acceptable those alternatives that pose minimal risks of adverse effects to human health or the environment compared to other substitutes and to the ODSs being replaced. After EPA's initial decision on MT-31, health concerns related to human exposure to MT-31 and MT-31-1 came to our attention. Because of potential health risks, EPA issued a regulation in January, 1999 that prohibit the use of MT-31 and MT-31-1 as substitutes for CFC-12 and HCFC-22 in air conditioning and refrigeration systems.

What are the health risks?

Who needs to be concerned?

How do I safely handle MT-31 and MT-31-1?

Complying with the Section 608 Refrigerant Recycling Rule

What refrigerants should I use instead?

SNAP listings

Is the use of MT-31 and MT-31-1 legal?

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Lists of acceptable and unacceptable substitutes

The SNAP Federal Register notices can be ordered from the Government Printing Office Order Desk (202) 783-3238; the citations for each are listed in the SNAP chronology.

Finally, this fact sheet is available as a Adobe Acrobat document (7K). format).