Final answer:
The statement that aerosol cans release chemicals that destroy the ozone layer is true. CFCs from aerosols can degrade into atomic chlorine which depletes the ozone. The Montreal Protocol has significantly reduced the emission of CFCs and has helped shrink the ozone hole.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement aerosol cans release chemical compounds that destroy the ozone layer is true. Historically, aerosol products contained chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which were used as propellants. CFCs, once released into the atmosphere, could be broken down by ultraviolet light. This breakdown produced atomic chlorine, which would then react with ozone (O3) molecules in the stratosphere, resulting in the depletion of the ozone layer. This ozone depletion increases the levels of harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation reaching the Earth, which could lead to skin cancers and eye cataracts, and has ecological impacts such as disturbing the nitrogen cycle and harming oceanic food webs.
The ozone layer plays a critical role in protecting life on Earth from the sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation. Despite the initial skepticism from industry representatives, a global effort known as the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer has successfully reduced the production and emission of ozone-depleting substances, including CFCs. This has led to a decrease in the size of the ozone hole and a reduction in the atmospheric concentration of chlorine and other harmful chemicals.