Nate Core Practice Test 2025 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

Refrigerants are substances used in cooling systems and can have significant environmental impacts, particularly through their global warming potential (GWP). Many refrigerants, especially hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), are potent greenhouse gases that can trap heat in the atmosphere much more effectively than carbon dioxide. This means that even small quantities of these refrigerants can have a disproportionately large effect on global warming.

The concern over the high GWP of certain refrigerants has led to international agreements aimed at phasing out the use of high-GWP substances in favor of more environmentally friendly alternatives. Understanding the implications of GWP is crucial for efforts to mitigate climate change, making this a primary environmental concern tied to refrigerants.

While the other options do detail various issues associated with certain refrigerants, their primary impact regarding environmental concerns is most directly related to their contribution to global warming, which is encapsulated in the high GWP factor.