There's nothing like scorching hot vinyl seats and rolled down windows to remind one of the dangers of junk science.
Back in 1995, Congress outlawed future U.S. production of the CFC-based refrigerant R-12 (also know by the trade name Freon), on the theory that reactive chlorine molecules escaping from leaking automobile air conditioners were attacking and degrading the Earth's protective ozone layer, creating holes that allowed dangerous ultraviolet (UV) radiation to reach the planet's surface unfiltered.
The problem with this theory is that the chlorine molecules in Freon are heavier than air; they settle to the ground upon release - many tens of thousands of feet below the ozone layer.
And even if they didn't, natural processes release exponentially more chlorine into the surrounding air than anything done by the hand of man. For example, the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines generated more chlorine in a few short hours than if all the man-made CFCs in the world were vented en masse.
But junk science prevailed; Freon was banned. The automakers quickly switched over to a replacement refrigerant (R-134a) beginning with their 1995 and newer models. This new refrigerant is not nearly as efficient as Freon, however, and does not cool as well, particularly on extremely hot days.
In the meanwhile, federal taxes on the remaining stocks of Freon, combined with the effects of scarcity, have driven per-pound costs of the stuff from around $2 to more than $40. A routine top-off that once cost less than $50 now can cost $200 or more. What's more, Freon is no longer legally available to private individuals; one must be a certified air-conditioning mechanic with all the necessary EPA say-sos before one may lawfully buy R-12.
But in a few short years, even certified technicians may not be able to get their hands on any Freon; supplies are rapidly dwindling and import prohibitions prevent repair shops from bringing Freon into the U.S. from countries where it is still legal to produce it.
Sometime soon, those who own older cars will face having to do without air conditioning - or pony up for an expensive retrofit kit to convert their car to the new refrigerant, R-143a. The cost for the changeover is typically $500-$1,000 or more.
All because of junk science purveyed by reportorial know-nothings in the media who prefer a good scare story to checking out their facts. Remember that next time you burn your behind on those hot vinyl seats.
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