Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are particularly harmful due to their effect on what?

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are primarily known for their damaging impact on the ozone layer. The ozone layer is crucial for absorbing the majority of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation, protecting living organisms on Earth. When CFCs are released into the atmosphere, they eventually rise up to the stratosphere where UV radiation breaks them down, releasing chlorine atoms. These chlorine atoms then interact with ozone (O3) molecules, leading to the depletion of the ozone layer.

The depletion of the ozone layer results in increased UV radiation reaching the Earth's surface, which can cause a variety of environmental and health problems, including skin cancer, cataracts, and harm to wildlife and vegetation. Therefore, the correct answer highlights the significance of CFCs in relation to ozone layer depletion, underscoring the importance of environmental regulations to limit their use and mitigate their impact on global health and the environment.

While CFCs can have implications in other areas, such as contributing to greenhouse gas emissions that affect air quality, their most notable and harmful effect is specifically on the ozone layer.