Abstract

Growing public awareness that products containing chlorinated fluorocarbons (CFCs) damage the atmosphere (and so indirectly cause more skin cancer) has led many manufacturers to alter formulations to become more ‘ozone-friendly’. Aerosol ‘pain-relieving’ freeze sprays (PR Spray - Boots; Ralgex Freeze Spray - Beecham) consist almost entirely of CFCs. The cooling effect depends on them, and no suitable alternative has yet been found. Like other pharmaceutical products, they are exempt from the 1987 Montreal Protocol limiting the use of CFCs.