Are chlorofluorocarbons banned? And what makes spraypaints (and other aerosols) harmful to the environment?

Question

Have CFC's been completely banned, or are there just limits on their production? What have CFC's been replaced with, and are these chemicals as toxic to the environment?

Also, if CFC's are so bad for the environment and they have been banned, what currently makes things like airconditioning and aerosol cans including spraypaint bad for the environment? (What chemicals specifically)

Answer 1

No, they are not banned, but the people are urged to not use them too much.  Spraypaints are a source of CFC's (the abbreviation for chlorofluorocarbonss), but so are other common things such as soap used in a car wash or the lining of refrigerators.

As of yet, there are not many good ideas for the replacement of CFC's.  The reason that they are so dangerous is because they destroy the O3 molecules which make up our ozone layer.  What they do is that they break up the O3 molecules into an O2 and an O molecule.  This process permanently destroys one ozone molecule.  What's more, one CFC has the ability to break up numerous ozone molecules before becoming used up.

Answer 2

CFC-12 also known as R-12 has been banned for production in the US, and has been banned as a propellant in spray cans. you can still get R-12 for use in automotive air conditioning systems, but these days it is recycled, and expensive.

CFC-12 is a full halogenated gas, meaning there is no hydrogen in the gas mixture. there are partially halogenated gasses used for stationary refrigeration systems, like your refrigerator at home, or a commercial refrigeration unit, or even stationary A/C systems. it is known as R-22 which is an HCFC. for automotive refrigeration  there is R-134a which is HFC-134a, which is a non halogenated refrigerant.

as for what propellants are used these days in aerosol cans, it is a combination of propane and iso-butane.

Answer 3

Paints are full of volatile organic solvents like toluene toluol keytones amines isocyanates naptha  and others, depending on what kind of paint.  And of course the thinner used has many similar compounds.  

Paints can contain metals like zinc and copper usually in organic compounds.  

People who work with them wear respirators with filters rated for orgnanic solvents.  

Many of them are bad for the central nervous system.  and the liver of course.

Answer 4

cfcs are banned

i dont know about the other chemicals...

Answer 5

Well CFC's aren't banned.  There are laws regulating how much you can put out, but the reason for not banning CFC's altogether is because they can find no suitable substitute.

In the old days, it was lead that made paint so dangerous.  But think about it, when you spray paint, and breathe, you are liable to inhale paint.  And regardless of whats in it, paint is not good for your lungs