This study upends how we think about the ozone layer and our health
Almost half a century ago, scientists began to theorize that a certain class of chemicals — which were found in virtually every air conditioner, aerosol can and refrigerator around the world — had a particularly dangerous side effect. These compounds, known as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), could float up into the stratosphere and break down a protective layer of ozone, allowing more ultraviolet light to enter the atmosphere and harm humans, crops, and entire ecosystems. In fact, this had already happened: There was a hole in the ozone layer over the South Pole.
Related Knowledge Center: Air emissions
More than 30 years after the last major update of the Clean Air Act, the U.S. Supreme Court has upended the ability of Congress to give the Environmental Protection Agency and other federal agencies broad scope to combat air pollution, including the emission of greenhouse gases. Meanwhile, further Biden administration efforts to limit emissions face opposition in the courts.