Why are MDIs propelled by CFCs being phased out?
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) deplete the stratospheric ozone layer. A thinner ozone layer allows more harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation to reach the Earth’s surface. Overexposure to UV radiation can lead to serious health effects, such as skin cancer, cataracts, and immune suppression, as well serious ecological impacts. The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (Montreal Protocol) is a landmark international agreement designed to protect the ozone layer. As a Party to the Montreal Protocol, the United States has committed to phasing out and eventually eliminating substances that deplete the ozone layer, including CFCs. It is estimated that actions to protect and restore the ozone layer will save an estimated 6.3 million U.S. lives that would have otherwise been lost to skin cancer. The shift to CFC-free MDIs is part of a larger transition that has affected many consumer and industrial products and sectors over the last several decades. In 1996, the United States
