What is one of the environmental concerns associated with HFCs?

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are commonly used as refrigerants and in other applications; however, they are associated with environmental concerns primarily due to their significant global warming potential (GWP). HFCs are potent greenhouse gases that can trap heat in the atmosphere much more effectively than carbon dioxide, contributing to climate change. Their global warming potential can be hundreds to thousands of times greater than that of carbon dioxide on a per molecule basis.

While ozone depletion is a major concern related to other refrigerants like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), HFCs have been introduced as alternatives specifically because they do not harm the ozone layer. Although HFCs have some level of direct toxicity, it is not the main environmental issue driving regulatory scrutiny; instead, the focus is primarily on their impact on climate change. Additionally, excessive water usage is not related to the environmental impact of HFCs. Thus, significant global warming potential stands out as the primary environmental concern associated with HFCs.