Which statement about ozone-depleting refrigerants is true?

• A. They are refrigerants that contribute to ozone depletion
• B. They repair ozone layers
• C. They have no effect on the ozone
• D. They are natural atmospheric components

Answer: (A)

Ozone-depleting refrigerants are man-made cooling substances that release chlorine or bromine in the upper atmosphere. When these halogen atoms are exposed to UV light, they catalytically destroy ozone molecules in the stratosphere. That makes the statement true: these refrigerants contribute to ozone depletion. They don’t repair the ozone layer, they do have an effect (and often a significant one in older formulations), and they aren’t natural atmospheric components. Modern refrigerants aim for low or zero ozone depletion potential, but older ones caused depletion.