Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are fully or partly halogenated hydrocarbons that contain carbon, hydrogen, chlorine, and fluorine, produced as volatile derivatives of methane, ethane, and propane. They are used in various applications such as air-conditioning, refrigeration, blowing agents in foams, insulations and packing materials, propellants in aerosol cans, and as solvents. CFCs are nontoxic, nonflammable, and generally inert in the lower atmosphere, but they undergo significant reaction in the upper atmosphere or stratosphere.
CFCs were originally developed as refrigerants during the 1930s and were widely used in applications such as aerosol-spray propellants, solvents, and foam-blowing agents. However, they were eventually discovered to pose a serious environmental threat as they contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer in the stratosphere. Due to their environmental impact, CFCs were phased out via the Montreal Protocol, and their production largely ended by 1996.
Despite being heavier than air, CFCs reach the stratosphere because the Earths atmosphere is always in motion and mixes the chemicals added into it. This mixing causes CFCs to be present in the stratosphere, where they contribute to ozone depletion.
In terms of health effects, inhaling CFCs can affect a person’s central nervous system, causing intoxication, tremors, convulsions, lightheadedness, and even the risk of sudden death. Ingestion or absorption through the skin can also have negative effects on a person’s immune system.
