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Nice set of Freon / ozone links. I was professional mechanical engineer in private practice, ASHRAE member, all that, until a career shift about 6 years ago. To sum it all up: Freon causes ozone depletion like guns cause crime.

The banning of CFC's has come at great societal cost. We took a huge step backwards in energy efficiency of air conditioning / refrigeration equipment as a result of the transition to the new refrigerants. Thank you, enviralmentalist whackos. < /sarcasm>

I still have a *big* tub of R-22 for my home systems.

Affrimative. I worked on HVAC systems from age 17 up, but since I don't have the "gov'mint issue piece of paper" I am subject to a $10,000 fine if I touch them nowadays.

People forget Icehouses were always located at th edge of town for a good reason in pre-Freon days- leaks of ammonia or the other common refrigerant gases were poisonous! Unless you overheat it ( phosgene! ) Freon is one of the most inert substances you will find.