what effects have CFCs had on earth?

Answer 1

Ozone depletion

The ozone layer can be depleted by free radical catalysts, including nitric oxide (NO), hydroxyl (OH), and atomic chlorine (Cl) and bromine (Br). While there are natural sources for all of these species, the concentrations of chlorine and bromine have increased markedly in recent years due to the release of large quantities of manmade organohalogen compounds, especially chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and bromofluorocarbons. These highly stable compounds are capable of surviving the rise to the stratosphere, where Cl and Br radicals are liberated by the action of ultraviolet light. Each radical is then free to initiate and catalyze a chain reaction capable of breaking down over 10,000 ozone molecules. Ozone levels, over the northern hemisphere, have been dropping by 4% per decade. Over approximately 5% of the Earth's surface, around the north and south poles, much larger (but seasonal) declines have been seen; these are the ozone holes
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Answer 2

any of several organic compounds composed of carbon, fluorine, chlorine, and hydrogen. CFCs are manufactured under the trade name Freon (q.v.). Developed during the 1930s, CFCs found wide application after World War II. These halogenated hydrocarbons, notably trichlorofluoromethane (CFC-11, or F-11) and dichlorodifluoromethane (CFC-12, or F-12), have been used extensively as aerosol-spray propellants, refrigerants, solvents, and foam-blowing agents. They are well-suited for these and other applications because they are nontoxic and nonflammable and can be readily converted from a liquid to a gas and vice versa.

Their commercial and industrial value notwithstanding, CFCs have been found to pose a serious environmental threat. Studies undertaken by various scientists during the 1970s revealed that CFCs released into the atmosphere accumulate in the stratosphere, where they had a deleterious effect on the ozone layer. Stratospheric ozone shields living organisms on Earth from the harmful effects of the Sun's ultraviolet radiation; even a relativelysmall decrease in the stratospheric ozone concentration can result in an increased incidence of skin cancer in humans and in genetic damage in many organisms. In the stratosphere the CFC molecules break down by the action of solar ultraviolet radiation and release their constituent chlorine atoms. These then react with the ozone molecules, resulting in their removal.

Answer 3

CFCs are the ones responsible for the Ozone Hole in the south pole.

Answer 4

CFC readily reacts with the unstable ozon found in the troposphere and destoys it, thereby exposing living organisms of the earth surface to deadly ultravoilet rays of the sunlight causing cancer in animals and destroying plant tissues.

Answer 5

Like the others said they caused a hole in the ozone layer, but new studies have shown that now that we have eliminated CFCs from use the hole is repairing itself

Answer 6

in addition to ozone depletion, CFCs is also considered a "greenhouse" gas. greenhouse gases allow UV/sunlight rays to pass through them but doesn't allow it to get out. thus, heating up the earth's surface even more. so too much greenhouse gases in the atmosphere can cause major problems and is also linked to global warming.

Answer 7

they break down ozone which is 3 oxygen modules bonded together which causes global warming inturn this causes the warming of the earth which causes the polar ice caps to melt which causes an imbalance in the salt and fresh water so marine life may die and also global flooding and disappearance of small island............every action has a reaction

Answer 8

They made the hole in the ozone over Antarctica, however this is probably NOT causing global warming, it's just giving a buncha penguins a bad tan. I'm not saying there is no global warming, I'm just saying this is damn near insignificant.

Answer 9

They're the working fluid for heat exchange in refrigerators and air conditioners. Years ago, they were also a propellant in spray cans.

Answer 10

they made the hole in the ozone which is causing global warming now