What is the effect of CFCs on ozone production?

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) have a significant and deleterious effect on stratospheric ozone. When CFCs are released into the atmosphere, they eventually rise to the stratosphere, where they are broken down by ultraviolet radiation. This process releases chlorine atoms, which are highly reactive and can destroy ozone (O3) molecules. A single chlorine atom can break apart thousands of ozone molecules, leading to a depletion of the ozone layer. This depletion is crucial because the ozone layer plays an important role in protecting the Earth from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, which can lead to increased skin cancer rates, cataracts, and other environmental impacts.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately reflect the behavior of CFCs. While there is ground-level ozone created by photochemical reactions, it is not a direct result of CFCs. Instead, ozone at ground level is a product of reactions between volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the presence of sunlight. CFCs do not have a neutral impact on ozone levels either; their contribution to ozone depletion underscores their role as harmful pollutants. Therefore, they clearly cause the depletion of stratospheric