If you’ve asked this question before, then you are not alone. More often than not, when you are involved in commercial property or facility management that needs refrigerants to run HVAC operations, you are inclined to ask: “What does it even mean to me?”
When contained within air conditioners or refrigerators, refrigerants are responsible for cooling and dehumidifying the air. However, these refrigerants also have a large impact on the environment. If you have excess and unused refrigerants lying around your home or workspace, it is important for you to know your options about how to dispose of or exchange them for friendlier options.
The Risk in our Atmosphere
Refrigerants endanger our atmosphere. In 1987, it was concluded by researchers that the chemical components in commonly used refrigerants, also known as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), are a major cause of devastation to the earth’s lower atmosphere. Multiple scientific researches have shown that when CFCs enter the earth’s stratosphere, UV rays from the sun then break the compounds apart. When the CFCs break apart, chlorine is released.
It is chlorine that causes destruction in our atmosphere, and it does so repetitively until it depletes the ozone layer. The ozone layer is our planet’s natural protection from outside elements, and it acts as the earth’s own cooling system. When it is depleted, temperatures rise and a chain reaction of unpredictable disasters ensue. This is the phenomenon called climate change.
The other thing to worry about is that refrigerants take so long to be broken down. CFCs take up to 2 years to be fully broken down, and throughout these years, chlorine is continuously released to the stratosphere, hence causing unstoppable damage for a long period of time.
The Risk in our Bodies
Aside from having an effect on the environment, old refrigerants also have a harmful effect on the human body. The more exposed we are to UV rays from the sun, the higher the chances of us developing any of these damaging diseases:
- Erythema or sunburn
- Premature skin aging
- Skin cancer
- Inflammation of the eyes
- Cataract build-up
- Photodermatoses and other skin diseases
- Blindness in severe cases
The World Health Organization has published a report on the Global burden of disease from solar ultraviolet radiation and the report estimates the amount of UV-associated diseases to be found all over the world. Using industry-approved methodology and the best available data on deaths and diseases caused by UV, the WHO report estimates that around 1.5 mill DALYs (disability-adjusted life years) are lost because of excessive exposure to UV rays.
The Risk on All Life
The dangers don’t end there. Continued depletion of the ozone layer and prolonged exposure to harmful UV rays can lead to the following tragedies:
The extinction of plant and animal species. The World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF) say that even just a 1.5 C degree average rise in temperature can put up to 20-30% of the world’s species at risk. If the planet gets warmer by an additional 3°C, more ecosystems will bear the burden.
The destruction of forests and forest life. Tree lines are gradually retreating as temperatures rise. More and more forest areas are razed dry by a warming climate, and the carbon dioxide released by burning trees adds to the hazardous mix of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.Climate change creates a strong cause and effect chain that involves melting glaciers, flooding, water shortages, coral reef extinction, and marine life imbalances.
Loss of agricultural livelihood. Extreme heat and drought, as well as extreme flooding, can wipe out hectares of farmland in an instant. This leads to the loss of livelihood for many families, and it also creates an imbalance in the world’s supply of agricultural goods, which can cause prices to go up.
Refrigerant Services LLC is committed to Working Towards a Greener Planet. Be the change you want to see in the world, and exchange your old and harmful refrigerants today. Contact Refrigerant Services LLC at 844-PURECFC (787-3232) or Schedule a Pick Up Today with our easy to use form.
