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Which products and industrial processes once used CFCs?
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Ozone depletion
The Antarctic ozone hole reaches its maximum extent in October of each year. On October 7, 2021, when this image was captured, the Antarctic ozone hole spanned 24.8 million square km (9.6 million square miles).
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), also known as Freons, were widely utilized in several industrial and commercial applications due to their nontoxic and nonflammable properties. Originally developed in the 1930s, they were primarily used in the following ways:1
- Refrigerants: CFCs were initially developed for use in cooling systems.1
- Aerosol-spray propellants: These compounds were commonly used in spray dispensers until their use was banned in many countries during the late 1970s.12
- Solvents: They served as effective cleaning agents in various industrial processes.1
- Foam-blowing agents: CFCs were used in the production of various types of foams.1
Because these chemicals contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer, their production was largely phased out globally by the end of the 20th century under the Montreal Protocol.13