|  | Public Health Safety | Environmental Health

Definition of HFC

HFC, short for hydro-fluorocarbon, is a family of liquids commonly found in refrigerators. Once a solution to ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFC), HFCs can present environmental problems.

  1. Benefits

    • According to the Environmental Protection Agency, HFCs do not destroy the ozone layer. In addition, they are just as good of a refrigerant as CFCs.

    Effects

    • The Kyoto Protocol on pollution considers HFCs a greenhouse gas--meaning it traps heat and warms the atmosphere--because it can stay in the air for as little as 14 years or up to 260 years, depending on the variety.

    Considerations

    • HFCs are a much better greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide (CO2). HFCs can trap thousands times more heat than CO2.

    Significance

    • As of 2009, HFCs only made up about 1 percent of all greenhouse gases. By 2050, when the Montreal Protocol eliminates CFCs, HFCs could make up 12 percent of greenhouse gases.

    Prevention/Solution

    • HFCs are so widespread due to their use as coolant in refrigerants that the best way to reduce the potential effects of HFCs are to promote readily available hydrocarbon refrigerants and collect and dispose of HFC based refrigerators.

Environmental Health - Related Articles