ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS
The ozone layer is a part of the atmosphere, which filters out ultraviolet rays from the sun before they reach the earth's surface. CFCs are chlorofluorocarbon gases, which attack the upper ozone stratospheric layer located between 6-25 miles up in the atmosphere. As CFCs drift upward ultraviolet rays break them down. This chemical process breaks down chlorine atoms from the CFC molecules. Scientific studies indicate that a single chlorine atom can destroy 100,000 ozone molecules. A natural process creates the ozone. This process is being exceeded by the rapid introduction of CFCs in the environment.
122-millionpounds of R-12 (Freon) were released into the atmosphere in 1990 alone. Freon is an ozone depleting gas, which has been used as the primary refrigerant in the automobile's air conditioning system. The depletion of the ozone layer increases the amount of radiation, which enters the earth's atmosphere. The effects of these increased radiation levels will effect the delicate, natural balance of the earth's environment. There has been significant scientific evidence of increased radiation levels in the environment. Higher levels of radiation result in a trend of global warming, which accelerates the melting of the polar ice caps. The sun's rays will have higher levels of ultraviolet rays that can cause skin cancer and other radiation poisoning.

MARKET POTENTIAL
There are approximately 140-million vehicles in the U.S. with CFC R-12 air conditioning systems. The automotive industry estimates 60-100 million potential customers between 1995 and the year 2000