Aerosols

* Re “New Holes in Ozone Layer Over Russia Perplex Scientists,” May 31: Your article states, “Western and Russian studies suggest that fluorocarbons from aerosol cans and Freon gas used in refrigeration are primary culprits in destroying 4% of the ozone layer over the past decade.” To clarify, American-made aerosol products stopped using chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) as propellants nearly 20 years ago.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Food and Drug Administration banned CFC use in virtually all American-made aerosol products in 1978, when scientists first theorized that CFCs damaged the ozone layer. Less than 1% of U.S.-made aerosols have government permission to use CFCs, and only for medical uses such as asthma inhalers--and even these uses are being phased out under the Montreal Protocol.

CAROL DIGGS

Consumer Aerosol Products

Council, Washington