CFCs and The Ozone HoleCFCs and The Ozone Hole

By: Wendy Zhang By: Wendy Zhang

Michael ClachersMichael Clachers

What Are CFCs?What Are CFCs?

CFCs is short for ‘Chlorofluorocarbons’. They are chemicals that were widely used by factories (because they are easy to store and cheap to produce).

What they are they used for?What they are they used for?

They used to be found They used to be found in refrigerators and air in refrigerators and air conditioning systems conditioning systems

They were also used They were also used as sprays in aerosol.as sprays in aerosol.

The Ozone layerThe Ozone layer

The ozone layer is The ozone layer is a thin layer of the a thin layer of the Earth’s atmosphere Earth’s atmosphere which helps which helps prevent ultraviolet prevent ultraviolet radiation from radiation from harming people harming people and other living and other living things.things.

Consequences of using CFCsConsequences of using CFCs

CFCs release chlorine CFCs release chlorine molecules which attack molecules which attack and destroy the ozone and destroy the ozone layer and can cause ozone layer and can cause ozone holes. holes.

Ozone holes appeared Ozone holes appeared above both the North and above both the North and South poles and they were South poles and they were increasing in size.increasing in size.

This allowed more danThis allowed more dangerous U.V. radiation tgerous U.V. radiation to get to the Earth and o get to the Earth and caused increased ratecaused increased rates of skin cancer amongs of skin cancer amongst people who lived nest people who lived near the ozone holes. ar the ozone holes.

The Story of SuccessThe Story of Success

The problem of CFCs The problem of CFCs destroying the ozone destroying the ozone layer has basically layer has basically been solved. Countries been solved. Countries producing CFCs producing CFCs worked together to find worked together to find alternatives to CFCs. alternatives to CFCs. They were successful They were successful and the ozone holes and the ozone holes now appear to be now appear to be closing.closing.

What has this got to do with the What has this got to do with the future?future?

The problem of Ozone The problem of Ozone depletion was resolved depletion was resolved through countries through countries working together. Now working together. Now with all of the with all of the environmental problems environmental problems of to day we need to of to day we need to reunite and combat reunite and combat these problems.these problems.

If we work together we can If we work together we can make a difference!make a difference!