What is the primary environmental concern regarding refrigerants?

The primary environmental concern regarding refrigerants is their global warming potential. Many refrigerants have been found to have high global warming potential (GWP), which means that they can significantly contribute to climate change when they are released into the atmosphere. This is particularly concerning for hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are commonly used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems.

As these refrigerants escape into the environment, often during servicing or leaks, they can trap heat in the atmosphere much more effectively than carbon dioxide, leading to increased global temperatures. This impact on the climate has led to regulatory measures aimed at reducing the use of high-GWP refrigerants in favor of alternatives with lower environmental impacts. Addressing global warming potential is critical for environmental sustainability and efforts to mitigate climate change.

While factors like flammability, cost of recovery systems, and pressure levels in systems are important for safety and operational efficiency, they do not pose the same level of environmental threat as the contribution to global warming associated with certain refrigerants.