Freon 22, also known as chlorodifluoromethane, hydrochlorofluorocarbon, HCFC-22, CC0335 and Dymel 22, has been used as refrigerant in heat pump and air-conditioning systems for decades. However, due to its ozone-depleting potential, it is no longer considered acceptable and is being replaced by other refrigerants. Freon 22 is also a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.
The effects of asbestos on the body can be life-threatening. Three of the major problems that may result from exposure to asbestos are asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.
There was a time when asbestos was mined to use primarily as insulation. Because it was so versatile, it was used in concrete, bricks, pipes and fireplace cement, acid-resistant gaskets, pipe insulation, brake pads, fireproof drywall, flooring, roofing, and drywall joint compound. Even some cigarette filters were made of asbestos in the 1950s. It wasn't until the late 20th Century that the harmful effects of asbestos exposure were taken seriously. Terminal diseases like mesothelioma can be linked directly to exposure to asbestos.