Information for the General Public

This page contains links to information likely to be of interest to the general public.

Ozone Depletion Science

Why are we worried about the ozone layer? What evidence ties CFC-12(used until 1993 in all car air conditioners) and other human-made chemicals to ozone depletion? How does ozone depletion affect human health and the environment?

UV Index

The UV Index provides guidance on how to protect yourself from the sun's ultraviolet radiation. Read several fact sheets and check today's index.

Individual Actions to Protect the Ozone Layer

What you can do to help (besides learn all you can about ozone depletion!)

What You Should Know about Refrigerants When Purchasing or Repairing a Residential A/C System or Heat Pump

Car Air Conditioning and Ozone Depletion

Several fact sheets explain how your car's air conditioner fits into the ozone depletion puzzle, what you can do about it, alternative refrigerants, and things to consider if you retrofit your car.

Metered Dose Inhalers

A fact sheet explains the essential use exemption from the CFC phaseout and how it applies to metered dose inhalers (MDIs).

Benefits of the CFC Phaseout

This fact sheet describes specific benefits and also includes some case studies of successful use of alternatives.

Environmental Indicators: Ozone Depletion

Describes the data that characterize the ozone layer and demonstrate that CFCs and other chemicals are causing ozone depletion. Many internal links allow more in-depth reading.

Lists of Ozone-Depleting Substances

For each chemical, this list provides the ozone-depletion potential ( ODP), global warming potential ( GWP), and CAS numbers.

Global Warming Potentials for Non-Ozone-Depleting Substances

Stratospheric Ozone Depletion tutorial

An introductory resource file from NASA's website for both teachers and students interested in the ozone layer.

Graphing Stratospheric Ozone

An educational activity that provides data for graphing stratospheric ozone trends. Made available by the Exploratarium on-line science museum.

Stratospheric Ozone Depletion interactive software

This software (3.4 Mb) is from SEAHOME, Software for Environmental Awareness, which is produced by Purdue University in cooperation with EPA's Great Lakes National Program Office. The program includes information and graphics depicting the ozone layer, how ozone is created, causes and effects of ozone depletion, the ozone hole, the greenhouse effect, and how an individual can help prevent ozone depletion. The program also examines applicable government legislation, including portions of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.