Ozone Layer Protection Glossary
In order to understand information about ozone depletion, it is important to know several terms and acronyms. We've listed them below.
Aerosol:
1) a small droplet or particle suspended in the atmosphere, typically containing sulfur
Aerosols are emitted naturally (e.g., in volcanic eruptions) and as the result of human activities (e.g., by burning fossil fuels). There is no connection between particulate aerosols and pressurized products also called aerosols (see below).2) a product that relies on a pressurized gas to propel substances out of a container
Consumer aerosol products in the US have not used ozone-depleting substances (ODS) since the late 1970s because of voluntary switching followed by federal regulation. The Clean Air Act and EPA regulations further restricted the use of ODS for non-consumer products. All consumer products, and most other aerosol products, now use propellants that do not deplete the ozone layer, such as hydrocarbons and compressed gases.Carbon Tetrachloride (CCl4): a compound consisting of one carbon atom and four chlorine atoms
Carbon tetrachloride was widely used as a raw material in many industrial uses, including the production of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), and as a solvent. Solvent use ended when it was discovered to be carcinogenic. It is also used as a catalyst to deliver chlorine ions to certain processes. Its ozone depletion potential is 1.2.Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC): a compound consisting of chlorine, fluorine, and carbon
CFCs are very stable in the troposphere. They move to the stratosphere and are broken down by strong ultraviolet (UV) light, where they release chlorine atoms that then deplete the ozone layer. CFCs are commonly used as refrigerants, solvents, and foam blowing agents. The most common CFCs are CFC-11, CFC-12, CFC-113, CFC-114, and CFC-115. The ozone depletion potential (ODP) for each CFC is, respectively, 1, 1, 0.8, 1, and 0.6. A table of all ozone-depleting substances shows their ODPs, global warming potentials (GWPs), and CAS numbers. CFCs are numbered according to a standard scheme.Class I Substance: one of several groups of chemicals with an ozone-depletion potential of 0.2 or higher
Class I substances listed in the Clean Air Act (CAA) include CFCs, halons, carbon tetrachloride, and methyl chloroform. EPA later added HBFCs and methyl bromide to the list by regulation. A table of class I substances shows their lifetime ODPs, GWPs, and CAS numbers.Class II Substance: a chemical with an ozone-depletion potential of less than 0.2
Currently, all of the HCFCs are class II substances. Lists of class II substances with their ODPs, GWPs, and CAS numbers are available.Clean Air Act (CAA): law amended by Congress in 1990
Title VI of the CAA directs EPA to protect the ozone layer through several regulatory and voluntary programs. Sections within Title VI cover production of ozone-depleting substances (ODS), the recycling and handling of ODS, the evaluation of substitutes, and efforts to educate the public.Column Ozone: ozone between the Earth's surface and outer space
Ozone levels can be described in several ways. One of the most common measures is how much ozone is in a vertical column of air. The Dobson unit is a measure of column ozone. Other measures include partial pressure, number density, and concentration of ozone, and can represent either column ozone or the amount of ozone at a particular altitude.Dobson Unit (DU): a measurement of column ozone levels
If 100 DU of ozone were brought to the Earth's surface, it would form a layer 1 millimeter thick. In the tropics, ozone levels are typically between 250 and 300 DU year-round. In temperate regions, seasonal variations can produce large swings in ozone levels. For instance, measurements in Leningrad have recorded ozone levels as high as 475 DU and as low as 300 DU. These variations occur even in the absence of ozone depletion, but they are well understood. Ozone depletion refers to reductions in ozone below normal levels after accounting for seasonal cycles and other natural effects. For a graphical explanation, see NASA's TOMS site.Global Warming Potential (GWP): a number that refers to the amount of global warming caused by a substance
The GWP is the ratio of the warming caused by a substance to the warming caused by a similar mass of carbon dioxide. Thus, the GWP of CO2 is defined to be 1.0 . CFC-12 has a GWP of 8,500, while CFC-11 has a GWP of 5,000. Various HCFCs and HFCs have GWPs ranging from 93 to 12,100. Water, a substitute in numerous end-uses, has a GWP of 0. A table of all ozone-depleting substances shows their ODPs, GWPs, and CAS numbers, and another table shows the GWPs for many non-ozone-depleting substances.Halon: a compound consisting of bromine, fluorine, and carbon
Halons are used as fire extinguishing agents, both in built-in systems and in handheld portable fire extinguishers. Halon production in the U.S. ended on December 31, 1993, because they contribute to ozone depletion. They cause ozone depletion because they contain bromine. Bromine is many times more effective at destroying ozone than chlorine. At the time the current U.S. tax code was adopted, the ozone depletion potentials of halon 1301 and halon 1211 were observed to be 10 and 3, respectively. These values are used for tax calculations. Recent scientific studies, however, indicate that the ODPs are at least 12 and 6, respectively. Note: technically, all compounds containing carbon and fluorine and/or chlorine are halons, but in the context of the Clean Air Act, "halon" means a fire extinguishing agent as described above. A table of class I substances shows their ODPs, GWPs, and CAS numbers. Halons are numbered according to a standard scheme.Heel:
A "heel," as defined in 40 CFR 82.3, is the residual amount of a substance that remains in a container after it is discharged or offloaded. A "heel" can be no more than ten percent of the volume of the container. The person importing the heel must certify that the residual amount will remain in the container and be included in a future shipment, or be recovered for transformation, destruction, or a non-emissive purpose.Hydrobromofluorocarbon (HBFC): a compound consisting of hydrogen, bromine, fluorine, and carbon
Although they were not originally regulated under the Clean Air Act, subsequent regulation added HBFCs to the list of class I substances. A table of class I substances shows their ODPs, GWPs, and CAS numbers.Hydrocarbon (HC): a compound consisting of carbon and hydrogen
Hydrocarbons include methane, ethane, propane, cyclopropane, butane, and cyclopentane. Although they are flammable, HCs may offer advantages as substitutes to ozone depleting substances because they have zero ozone depletion potential, low toxicity, and with the exception of methane, have low global warming potential (GWP). HCs are numbered according to a standard scheme.Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC): a compound consisting of hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine, and carbon
The HCFCs are one class of chemicals being used to replace the CFCs. They contain chlorine and thus deplete stratospheric ozone, but to a much lesser extent than CFCs. HCFCs have ozone depletion potentials (ODPs) ranging from 0.01 to 0.1. Production of HCFCs with the highest ODPs are being phased out first, followed by other HCFCs. A table of ozone-depleting substances shows their ODPs, GWPs, and CAS numbers. HCFCs are numbered according to a standard scheme.Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC): a compound consisting of hydrogen, fluorine, and carbon
The HFCs are a class of replacements for CFCs. Because they do not contain chlorine or bromine, they do not deplete the ozone layer. All HFCs have an ozone depletion potential of 0. Some HFCs have high GWPs. HFCs are numbered according to a standard scheme.Methyl Bromide (CH3Br): a compound consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and bromine
Methyl Bromide is an effective pesticide used to fumigate soil and many agricultural products. Because it contains bromine, it depletes stratospheric ozone and has an ozone depletion potential of 0.6. Production of methyl bromide was phased out on December 31, 2004, except for allowable exemptions. Much more information is available.Methyl Chloroform (CH3CCl3): a compound consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and chlorine
Methyl chloroform is used as an industrial solvent. Its ozone depletion potential is 0.11.Montreal Protocol: the international treaty governing the protection of stratospheric ozone
The Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer and its amendments control the phaseout of ODS production and use. Under the Montreal Protocol, several international organizations report on the science of ozone depletion, implement projects to help move away from ODS, and provide a forum for policy discussions. In addition, the Multilateral Fund provides resources to developing nations to promote the transition to ozone-safe technologies. The full text of the Montreal Protocol![Exit EPA Disclaimer](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20121017123209im_/http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/epafiles_misc_exitepadisc.gif)