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The Benefits of CFCs at the Cost of the Environment

Authors Seth Cagin and Philip Dray. Their new book is "Between Earth and Sky: How CFCs Changed Our World and Endangered the Ozone Layer." It's about how CFCs (or chlorofluorocarbons) went from being the "miracle compound" to the the biggest threat to the ozone layer. CFCs came into being in 1928 and made possible the mass use of refrigerators and air conditioners. By the 1950s they were used in aerosol sprays and in the manufacture of Sytrofoam. But by 1974, scientists began to see their deleterious environmental effects.

22:43

Other segments from the episode on May 24, 1993

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, May 24, 1993: Interview with Seth Cagin and Philip Dray; Interview with Joe Ely; Review of Rory Nugent's book "Drums Along the Congo."

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