Pioneers and Innovators
In 1973 Mario Molina joined Professor F. Sherwood Rowland
and developed the "CFC-ozone depletion theory". Together they realized
that the chlorine atoms produced by the decomposition of the CFC's would
catalytically destroy ozone. They realized the seriousness of the problem
when they compared the industrial amounts of the CFC's to the amounts of
nitrogen oxides which control ozone levels. Continued realease of the CFC's
into the atmosphere would cause a significant depletion of the Earths stratospheric
ozone layer. They compared their work with other professors and other scientists
work. After the publication of their work, Molina and Rowland spent much
time explaining it to other scientists and the media. Molina and Rowland
testified at legislative hearings on potiental controls on CFC's emissions.
This eventually outlawed the use of CFC's.
Info from Mario
Molina Autobiography
Links:
MIT Chemistry:
Mario J. Molina
Site by:
Christina A. Burroughs