Are Aerosol Cans Harmful to the Environment?

Aerosol History

• Aerosol spray cans were invented in the 1920s by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The USDA first designed the cans to pressurize and deliver pesticides. They were then used to hold mosquito repellent, and by the 1970s, industrial and household products benefited from a propellant delivery system. In the mid-1970s, however, ozone depletion brought aerosols to the public's attention.Commercial aerosol cans in the United States have not contained CFCs since the late 1970s.

Modern Aerosol Sprays

• CFCs were replaced as the propellent in U.S.-made commercial aerosols with hydrocarbons and nitrous oxide. Although this change was made in the 1970s, it took decades longer for the rest of the world to follow suit. In 1987, the Montreal Protocol was signed by 191 countries, promising to phase out CFCs and other ozone-depleting chemicals in commercial aerosols. According to the Christian Science Monitor, it is thought that 90 percent of commercial aerosols worldwide are CFC-free. Hydrocarbons and nitrous oxide do not deplete the ozone, but scientists say they contribute to the greenhouse effect.

Aerosol Alternatives

• Most products that are available as aerosols can be purchased in nonaerosol form or another alternative. Pesticides and herbicides for home use, for instance, are available in containers with hand pumps that pressurize the contents without use of chemicals. An alternative to aerosol cooking oil spray is a container that pressurizes regular cooking oil without use of chemical propellants. These are available at home stores. Regular spray bottles are often a reasonable alternative to aerosols, such as for window cleaners or hairspray. Misters or atomizers also produce a fine, pressurized mist.

Disposal of Aerosol Cans

• It is important to safely dispose of aerosol cans. Cans are designed so that the propellant and product run out at the same time. Sometimes this design fails, however, and you are left with a can of propellant that should be treated as hazardous waste. If the can is empty, add it to your household recycling, which is the safest alternative. Never throw your can away in a place where it is likely to be added to a trash fire, because the pressurized can may explode. If the can is not empty, contact your local recycling center for the safest way in your community to dispose of it. The center may have a system for puncturing and draining the can.