Do Medical CFCs Threaten the Environment?

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Today there is no doubt that chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are harmful to the atmosphere by damaging the stratospheric ozone layer and also acting as very potential greenhouse gases thus contributing to the global warming of our planet.

For many years these compounds - especially Fll and F12 - have been used as propellants in pressurized cans and sprays, as refrigerants, as foam - blowing agents, as cleaning agents in the electronics industry etc. The estimated worldwide consumption of CFCs for 1988 is above 10⁹ kg. After the environmental threats became obvious many more or less effective national and international actions were taken to reduce the release of CFCs into the atmosphere. Within the last years substitutes were developed for most purposes, especially also for commercially used pressurized spray cans. For metered dose inhalers CFCs at present cannot be fully replaced because of their physical, chemical and toxicological properties. Since the percentage of CFCs used for medical purposes is below 0.5% of the total consumption, it is at least no promising way to start with restrictions in the medical field, in fact most legal restrictions do not touch this application. There are however several other good reasons to look for a replacement of CFCs or even metered dose inhalers at all.