Model calculations of the relative effects of CFCs and their replacements on stratospheric ozone

Because chlorine has been linked to the destruction of stratospheric ozone, the use of many fully halogenated compounds, such as the chloro-fluorocarbons CFC-11 and -12, is restricted by international agreement. Hydrohalocarbons are under intensive development as replacements for CFCs. Because they contain hydrogen, these gases are susceptible to tropospheric destruction which significantly shortens their atmospheric lifetimes. Model calculations show that chlorine-containing hydrohalocarbons have less effect on ozone, by an order of magnitude, than their regulated counter-parts.