Chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs (also known as Freon) are non-toxic, non-flammable and non-carcinogenic substances. They contain fluorine atoms, carbon atoms and chlorine atoms. There has been no new CFCs produced in developed countries since 1994. The total usage of CFCs has fallen drastically due to their harmful nature.
Originally, CFCs were created to serve as coolants in appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioners. Often times they were also used as solvents in cleaners, fire extinguishers and propellants in aerosols. This chemical was also frequently used in the development of electronic circuit boards.
Ozone depletion occurs when bad chemicals and airborne contaminates get lifted into the upper atmosphere and attack the ozone layer. This causes holes and weak spots that will inevitably become holes of the problem is not taken care of. While countries are trying to due as much as they can to stop this contamination, it is not enough. It will cost the world billions of dollars to destroy the CFCs that currently exist in the atmosphere and even more to keep and more from being created. |
There are many negative impacts that CFCs have on the environment. The most indisputable would be the damage to the ozone layer and global climate change. Although CFCs have not been totally proven to be the main cause of ozone depletion, it has been identified as a leading cause. CFCs have also been identified as greenhouse gases with a potential for global warming that is 11,000 times that of carbon dioxide. To destroy these airborne chemicals, it would cost the world between $62 and $180 billion. So unfortunately the likelihood of this happening is very low.
Sometimes the effects of CFCs can sound good but really they are not. For example, the chlorine atoms in this chemical would react and break down into oxygen. It sounds like a good thing, but this reaction actually harms the growth of crops and increases the risk of non-melanoma skin cancer. Inhalation of high levels of CFCs can effect the lungs, central nervous system, heart, liver and kidneys. There are many symptoms of the problems that can occur due to CFC inhalation such as drowsiness, slurred speech, disorientation, and weakness in the limbs.
CFCs were first developed in the 1928 and were originally believed to be safe for human use. The usage of this product skyrocketed. It took until 1974 for scientists and environmental researchers to discover that it was bad and that a hole was forming in the ozone layer although they had yet to discover that CFCs were the leading cause. Scientists discovered the true cause of the ozone problem in 1987. They then put a stop to nearly all new production. This occurred in 1994. These chemicals were used for many things, most commonly as a refrigerant in air conditioners and refrigerators.
Sometimes the effects of CFCs can sound good but really they are not. For example, the chlorine atoms in this chemical would react and break down into oxygen. It sounds like a good thing, but this reaction actually harms the growth of crops and increases the risk of non-melanoma skin cancer. Inhalation of high levels of CFCs can effect the lungs, central nervous system, heart, liver and kidneys. There are many symptoms of the problems that can occur due to CFC inhalation such as drowsiness, slurred speech, disorientation, and weakness in the limbs.
CFCs were first developed in the 1928 and were originally believed to be safe for human use. The usage of this product skyrocketed. It took until 1974 for scientists and environmental researchers to discover that it was bad and that a hole was forming in the ozone layer although they had yet to discover that CFCs were the leading cause. Scientists discovered the true cause of the ozone problem in 1987. They then put a stop to nearly all new production. This occurred in 1994. These chemicals were used for many things, most commonly as a refrigerant in air conditioners and refrigerators.
There are two major groups that work to protect the worlds ozone layer. These groups are called the Vienna Convention for the protection of the ozone layer and the Montreal protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer. The Vienna convention was set up with the purpose of working to understand the problems of ozone depletion. They also work to find appropriate solutions and they work together with other companies to put an end to this problem.
The Montreal protocol is a much larger organization that handles a lot of the problems causing ozone depletion. Because of them, over 95% of the production and consumption of ozone depleted substances have been removed. This organization also works to regulate the amount of ozone harming substances that are being created in the world today. They require all parties to eliminate the production and import of nearly 100 substances in accordance with agreed timelines. They do however allow underdeveloped countries an additional 10 to 15 years to phase out what they have created. They keep close tabs on all of these harmful substances and work very hard to control the creation of these substances. |
There are many alternatives for CFCs that have been created since it was discovered that they are extremely bad for the environment. Such alternatives include hydrofluorocarbons or HFCs. These chemicals lack chlorine and have a lower lifetime in the lower atmosphere. An example of this compound would be HFC-134a which is now used in automobile air conditioners.
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Another alternative is hydrocarbon refrigerants, which are also used in car air conditioners, because they have excelling thermodynamic properties and preform well in high temperatures. Hydrocarbons are often used because they have little to no environmental impacts. They are used in worldwide domestic and commercial refrigeration applications and are becoming increasingly more available.