What type of substance is it?
HFCs are man-made chemicals containing the element fluorine used predominantly as refrigerants and aerosol propellants. They are colourless, odourless and chemically unreactive gases. They are "greenhouse gases" - releasing them to the atmosphere is thought to cause global warming. They are primarily being used as replacements to ozone damaging CFCs and HCFCs.
How is it released?
Major sources of HFC release include refrigeration and air conditioning equipment, HCFC 22 manufacture, some specialist aerosols and newer Metered Dose Inhalers (e.g. for asthma). There are no natural sources of HFCs.
Detailed information
Scientific name:
Hydrofluorocarbons are a group of related chemicals of similar composition (e.g. 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane, C2H2F4)
Other names:
(e.g. HFC 134a, R134a, Refrigerant 134a)
CAS Number:
(not available)
HFCs are man-made chemicals not found naturally in the environment. There was limited usage before the Montreal Protocol and subsequent phase out of the related CFCs and HCFCs. Emissions of HFCs from the UK are rising as they continue replace CFC and HCFC usage. In 1997 the annual emission of HFCs was over 3 million kg, mainly from their use as refrigerants.
HFCs are mainly used as substitutes for CFCs and HCFCs (ozone depleting substances) that are being phased out under the 1987 Montreal Protocol. Major usage is as refrigerants in refrigeration and air conditioning equipment and as propellants in industrial aerosols and newer MDIs (Metered Dose Inhalers, e.g. for asthma). Minor uses include foam-blowing (e.g. making plastic foams for food packaging), solvent cleaning and in some fire extinguishing systems.
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are a group of compounds containing carbon, fluorine and hydrogen (unlike HCFCs, which also contain chlorine). They are generally colourless and odourless gases at environmental temperatures and for the most part chemically unreactive.
Where is it released?
Major releases of HFCs are from their manufacture and from the filling of and leakage from refrigeration equipment and from its end of life destruction. HFC 23 is also produced as a by-product in HCFC 22 manufacture. Other major releases include the use of HFC containing aerosols and Metered Dose Inhalers. The other uses contribute relatively minor releases. There are no natural sources of release to the environment.
Local environmental effects
No significant local impacts are likely.
Global environmental effects
The main impact of HFCs on the environment is as greenhouse gases, leading to global warming. Because they are only released in relatively small amounts current concentrations are estimated to represent only around 2.2% of the total UK global warming contribution. They have very high global warming potentials (100-3000 times that of carbon dioxide), however these are lower than the CFCs and HCFCs they replace. The concept of Global warming potential has been developed to compare the ability of each greenhouse gas to trap heat in the atmosphere relative to another gas. Due to their stability they have fairly long atmospheric lifetimes (tens to hundreds of years).
Possible health concerns
Excessive exposure to some hydrofluorocarbons may affect the brain and heart. The Environment Agency aims to ensure that environmental exposures are too low to harm human health.
Legislation
Why was this substance selected for the Pollution Inventory?
Included in : European Pollutant Emission Register (EPER) reporting requirements; United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Kyoto Protocol reporting requirements; Environment Agency categorisation as a hazardous Volatile Organic Compound (VOC).
Standard risk phrases for the pure substance
The standard risk phrases provided here are generally those used by suppliers of chemicals to describe substances - for example on packaging materials. The most important source of these phrases are the CHIP Regulations - Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) - provided by the Health and Safety Executive. Some substances do not have CHIP risk phrases and in these circumstances we have used other risk phrases, the sources of which are indicated.
Because this is a large family of chemicals rather than a single substance, it is not possible to provide risk phrases, which are generally provided for a single substance whose properties can be precisely determined.
Controlling legislation and international agreements
The UK government is committed to reduce emissions of the six main greenhouse gases including HFCs under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (Kyoto Protocol). The target for the UK is to achieve a reduction of the global warming potential of the six greenhouse gases of 12.5% by 2008-2012 (based on 1990 emissions estimates).
These factsheets have been compiled to provide users with information on the Pollution Inventory substances and represent our best efforts to summarise a large number of disparate and sometimes conflicting data sources. We emphasise that this information describes potential hazards rather than actual effects and that the Environment Agency seeks to regulate releases to minimise emissions and hence any risk of detrimental effects occurring.
