In 1928, chlorofluorocarbons were first created as nontoxic, nonflammable refrigerants. More popularly known as CFCs, these odorless chemicals were soon produced commercially. Inexpensive to manufacture, CFCs could be found almost everywhere: as propellants in aerosol spray cans, cleaners for computer chips, and coolants in air conditioners. In 1974, however, chemists Sherwood Rowland and Mario Molina demonstrated that CFCs destroyed protective ozone in the atmosphere.¹
Ozone keeps about 95% of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation from reaching the earth’s surface; depletion of ozone from use of CFCs creates a plethora of human health issues, such as increased rates of skin cancer, and environmental issues, such as increased levels of acid deposition.
As countries around the world realized the hazards of CFCs, many knew something had to be done to reverse the effects of ozone depletion.² In 1987, representatives of 36 nations met in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and developed the Montreal Protocol, which cut emissions of CFCs by about 35%. Several revisions were soon made to the Montreal Protocol, based on continued research documenting the effects of CFCs on the ozo