Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) are Gaseous chemicals which were used greatly during the last century since its creation in 1928. These products were investigated and it was shown that their properties endangered public health by destroying the ozone layer, which is why their use was prohibited.
In this ecology article, we explain you What are CFC or chlorofluorocarbons And we explain what effects they produce, we show some most used examples and products.
What are CFC or chlorofluorocarbons
CFC or chlorofluorocarbons are chemical substances constituted by carbon, fluorine and chlorine atomsbelonging to the Halocarbons group, so they are not toxic or flammable. The CFCs were first synthesized in 1928 by Thomas Midgley as an alternative to the chemicals used in the refrigerators. After World War II, they were used as propulsors in insecticides, paintings, hair conditioners and other medical care products.
Between 1950 and 1960, they were used in the air conditioners of houses, cars and offices. The use of CFC worldwide increased greatly with one million metric tons produced annually in the United States, being used in the manufacture of aerosols, refrigerants, expansion agent for foams and packaging material, as well as in solvents.
Examples of CFC or chlorofluorocarbons
The compounds of chlorofluorocarbons are volatile derivatives of methane, ethane and propane. So, some Examples of chlorofluorocarbons more popular are:
- MethylCloroform: A well -known CFC, used in the past as a liquid of writing corrections under the commercial name of Tippex. It is estimated that it is the source responsible for more than half of chlorine emissions in the atmosphere from CFCs.
- CFC-13 or tricloro-trifluoroetan.
- CFC-12, dichlorodifluoromethane or F-12: They were used extensively as refrigerants, propellant in aerosols, solvents and foam expanding agents. Not being toxic or flammable, they had many utilities, as well as for their rapid passage of gas fluid and vice versa, with a boiling temperature of -30 ºC.
- CFC-11, F-11 or Triclorofluoromethane: Employee with the same purposes as the CFC-12. There was a time when it was one of the most common CFCs used as propellant in almost half of aerosols manufactured worldwide. Its boiling temperature is 24 ºC.
- CFC-114 or DICLOOTETRAFLUORAETANO.
- CFC-115 or chloropteafluoroetan.
Products with CFC or chlorofluorocarbons
Chlorofluorocarbons do not have significant natural sources. They have been used as refrigerants, as propellant, as industrial solvents in the manufacture of foams and as cleaning agents in electronic manufacturing. Therefore, if you wonder Where are chlorofluorocarbonssome of the products containing CFC, despite being prohibited their use since 1996, are:
- Refrigerants in air conditioners.
- Propellant in aerosols.
- Refrigerants in refrigerators.
- Haloalcanos in aircraft.
- Until 2009, CFCs could be found in inhalers to control asthma.
- Degreasing solvents.
Effects of chlorofluorocarbons
After explaining what chlorofluorocarbons are, having seen some examples and discovered in which products are, let’s see what are the effects of chlorofluorocarbons on the ozone layer, the atmosphere and our own health.
As they were chemically inert compounds, it was initially thought that chlorofluorocarbons would be harmless to the atmosphere, but over time it was found that, upon reaching the stratosphere, the CFCs reacted with ultraviolet radiationwhich is more intense in this part of the atmosphere. In interacting with radiation, chlorofluorocarbons suffer a photolithic decomposition that makes them sources of inorganic chlorine. Chlorine atoms released catalyze the conversion of ozone molecules into oxygen, being able to destroy up to 100,000 ozone molecules for each chlorine atom. This is why CFC They are associated with the destruction of the ozone layerwhich has very harmful consequences and encourages chemical pollution, since ozone absorbs part of the ultraviolet radiation of the sun, specifically that between the wavelengths of 280 and 320 nm, which is harmful for both animal and vegetable organisms. Thus, the destruction of the ozone layer increases the amount of UV-B radiation that reaches the earth’s surface and endangers life on Earth.
The use of CFCS has resulted in the Creation of holes in the ozone layer In different parts of the world and for that reason its employment has been prohibited in a large number of countries. However, despite their prohibition, due to their chemical inertia and their insolubility, CFCs have long hopes of life in the atmosphere, which is why they continue to have an impact on this between tens and hundreds of years after their release. Due to all this, since 1987 in the Montreal Protocol, the CFCS are recognized as harmful chemical compounds, which is why in that protocol and other international agreements (such as Kyotus of 1997), the need to reduce and eliminate its use has been determined, since in addition to the aforementioned, CFCs also also They act as greenhouse gases.
Learn to take care of the ozone layer with the advice we share in this article: “How to take care of the ozone layer.”
Effects of chlorofluorocarbons on health
Although its use has been gradually decreasing, there may be old refrigerators and other devices in service today with its consequent negative impact on health through its inhalation, intake or other physical contact. CFCS inhalation It affects the central nervous systemso that the effects of chlorofluorocarbons on health can cause problems such as respiratory distress, kidney and liver conditions, headaches, tremors, seizures and even heart rate and, in extreme cases, in extreme cases, it can cause cases of suffocation and death. CFCs contact with the skin can cause epithelial irritation, dermatitis or even freezing (in the case of exposure to pressurized CFCs, such as those present in refrigerants). In turn, CFCs intake can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and other digestive alterations.
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