BIG. POOFY. HAIRSTYLES.

This was all the rage back in the 70s and 80s, popularized by famous celebrities like Maddona and Micheal Jackson (Rosillo, 2019). However, our hair (just like everything else about us), is affected by gravity. So unless you are a cartoon character whom has just been electrocuted, the chances of you being able to partake in this trend naturally were very slim. The solution? Enter into the world of HAIRSPRAY. In this post, I will be discussing another trend of the past (although not so far back) and how it contributed to environmental pollution.

In class a few weeks ago (Week 2 Lecture), we learnt about how Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and how they may deplete the ozone layer. CFCs, HCFCs and HFCs were important compounds in everyday life and began to become widespread in the 1960s (Frost, 2020). In class, we learnt that due to their stability and high heat capacity, these compounds were once regarded as a ‘gift from God’. These gases were used as refrigerants, in everyday products and to propel aerosols like hair spray out of cans (National Geographic, 2013). Refrigerants are commonly used in cooling and freezing devices to facilitate the refrigeration cycle and its use spurred significant industrialisation and economic development, especially in the 70s and 80s (Rosillo, 2019). So how did this ‘gift from God’ become known as a super-pollutant?!

Well during the same time CFCs, HCFCs and HFCs were popular, scientists began to notice that the ozone (O3) layer in the stratosphere was depleting. The O3 layer acts as a shield to protect Earth’s surface from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation and absorbs 95-99.9% of the ultraviolet radiation that gets to our planet. In 1974, Molina and Rowland became the first scientists to suggest that CFCs were the culprit behind the depleting O3 layer (Newman et al., 2009; Rosillo, 2019). These claims were initially refuted by representatives from the aerosol and halocarbon industries. When Molina started studying CFCs in the 1970s and discovered their role in ozone depletion, each U.S. household averaged 30 to 40 spray cans containing these harmful substances (National Geographic, 2013).

The proliferation of these gases, specifically CFCs and HCFCs, resulted in environmental pollution. Production, usage, disposal and mismanagement of these gases resulted in it emissions into the troposphere. Due to the extremely persistent nature of these gases, they were eventually transported into the stratosphere, where it begins to deplete the O3 layer. This happens as the gas would release a chlorine radical which breaks up O3 into oxygen gas (O2) and the process repeats itself. This can be seen in the illustration below.

The depletion of the O3 layer is an important concern because exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun are harmful for organisms and can penetrate organisms’ protective layers, like skin, damaging DNA molecules in plants and animals. Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation is also related to higher incidence of skin cancer amongst other afflictions. Furthermore, CFCs and HCFCs have great global warming potential. Global warming potential refers to the ability of a greenhouse gas to absorb heat compared to carbon dioxide. This means that a higher concentration of these gases in the atmosphere will result in rising global temperatures.

The Montreal Protocol is a global agreement that took into effect in 1987. The global agreement proposed to protect the O3 layer by completely phasing out the production of substances like CFCs that were depleting it (Frost, 2020). This included CFCs, HCFCs and HFCs. Now you may be wondering – why was HFCs included in the agreement? It does not contain chlorine so it does not play a part in the O3 depletion process described above, right? Well… Yes… But more importantly, HFCs also had high global warming potential and was also recognised as a super-pollutant. Fortunately, thanks to the Montreal Protocol, we can see that the O3 layer has been repairing itself (National Geographic, 2013; Frost, 2020). Nevertheless, the persistent nature of CFC molecules in the stratosphere, it will still take time for the ozone layer in the northern, southern and polar regions to completely heal (Rosillo, 2019).

The Montreal Protocol is a glimmer of hope that shows that with measurable commitments and international cooperation, we still have a chance to save our planet.  In the next blog post, I will be discussing a study by Newman et al. (2009) which explored different scenarios in which the Montreal Protocol was not in place.

Frost, R. (2020). Historic ban on hairsprays helps ozone layer to heal. Euronews Green. Retrieved from https://www.euronews.com/green/2020/03/27/historic-ban-on-hairsprays-helps-ozone-layer-to-heal.

National Geographic. (2013). Healing the Ozone Layer: Chemist Says Treaty Is Working. National Geographic. Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/pages/article/130416-ozone-layer-aerosol-environment-science-montreal-protocol.

Newman, P. A., Oman, L. D., Douglas, A.R., Fleming, E. L., Frith, S. M., Hurwitz, M. M., Kawa, S. R., Jackman, C. H., Krotkov, N. A., Nash, E. R., Neilsen, J. E., Pawson, S., Stolarski, R. S. & Velders, G. J. M. (2009). ‘What would have happened to the ozone layer if chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) had not been regulated?’. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 9, 2113–2128, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-9-2113-2009, 2009.

Rosillo, R. L. (2019). What do big, poofy hairstyles and the ozone layer have in common? IDB Blogs. Retrieved from https://blogs.iadb.org/sostenibilidad/en/ozone-layer-day-safeguards/.