All articles tagged with #cfcs
A new study finds that changes in ozone levels will cause the planet to warm more than previously thought, with ozone contributing significantly to future warming due to both recovery of the ozone layer and increased ground-level ozone from pollution, complicating climate mitigation efforts.
The Antarctic ozone hole was the seventh smallest on record in 2024, thanks to declining chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) due to the Montreal Protocol and unexpected ozone influx from northern air currents. The hole, still large at nearly 8 million square miles, is expected to fully mend by 2066, demonstrating the effectiveness of international efforts to curb ozone-depleting chemicals.
Thomas Midgley Jr., once celebrated for his inventions of tetraethyl lead and CFCs, is now seen as a figure whose breakthroughs had disastrous environmental and health consequences. His leaded gasoline and CFCs, while solving immediate industrial problems, led to widespread lead poisoning and severe damage to the ozone layer. Despite being hailed as a hero in his time, Midgley's legacy is marred by the long-term harm caused by his inventions, reflecting the unchecked pursuit of progress in the early 20th century.
Despite being banned under the Montreal Protocol, five chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) have reached record levels in the atmosphere from 2010 to 2020, according to a study published in the journal Nature Geoscience. The increase was probably due to leakage during the production of chemicals that are meant to replace CFCs, including hydrofluorocarbons (HFOs). Although at current levels they do not threaten the recovery of the ozone layer, they contribute to a different threat, joining other emissions in heating the atmosphere.