CFC's are well known for their potential to destroy the Ozone layer.

The ozone layer is a layer of ozone molecules (O3) which projects the earth from harmful UV-B Radiation from the sun. UV-B exposure can damage plant life, single cell organisms, and aquatic ecosystems. Human exposure to UV-B can increase the risk of skin cancer, cataracts, and a suppressed immune system. The ozone layer is not year round, but rather appears annually-lasting between August and December. In recent years, it has been recorded to have lasted an increased amount of time.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's), chlorine, and bromine-containing compounds, are key promoters to the depletion of ozone in the Earth's stratosphere. They do this by means of Catalytic destruction-which removes the odd oxygen species ( atomic oxygen O and ozone O3) while leaving chlorine unaffected. CFC's are used in a variety of industrial, commercial, and household applications. Due to the Montreal Protocol (see Global Initiatives), and general knowledge of the ozone problem, CFC's and other leading ozone depleaters are being phased out. Unfortunately some countries still use CFC's unchecked.

Hydroflourocarbons (HFC's) have, for the most part, replaced CFC's in industrial and commercial uses. It has been studied and measured that, while HFC's are still ozone depleaters, it is considered negligible.

Global monitoring of ozone levels from space is done by the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS). More information about the current ozone hole can be found at: www.theozonehole.com.

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