Facts About Freon

You may be interested to know a little more about what Freon is and what impact it can have on the environment:

• “Freon” is a term developed by DuPont in the 1930s for a non-toxic cooling agent found in most refrigerators, air conditioners and other cooling devices.
• There are numerous types of Freon, but all are a mixture of the elements carbon, chlorine, fluorine and hydrogen.
• Because Freon is non-toxic, it eliminated the danger caused from refrigerator leaks, even though Freon can still be hazardous to children and pets if directly inhaled.
• The most common type of Freon is chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which have been shown to deplete the ozone layer that protects us from ultraviolet radiation.
• While CFCs have been phased out in favor of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) that do less damage to the ozone, it is illegal to release Freon gas into the atmosphere.