degradation product in several of the candidate agents for fire extinguishment Thus far, no biotic or abiotic destruction mechanism has been clearly established for CF₃COOH, and consequently it is thought to be quite stable in water.⁶⁰ CF₃COOH is not toxic toward animals but does have a mild herbicidal effect.⁶¹ The global average concentration of CF ₃COOH expected in rainfall as a result of the atmospheric degradation of HFCs is many orders of magnitude below that observed to have an impact on plant systems.⁶² However, uncertainties concerning the persistence of CF₃COOH in ground water allow for the possibility that CF₃COOH could accumulate in seasonal wetlands over long time periods ( years).⁶³ Very recently, Frank et al.⁶⁴ have reported the detection of CF₃COOH in lake, river, spring, and ocean water samples at levels which are orders of magnitude greater than can be accounted for by man-made emissions. The work of Frank et al. implies that there are large unknown sources of CF₃COOH. It seems unlikely that the concentration of CF₃COOH formed during the atmospheric degradation of the halon replacement compounds will have any significant adverse global environmental impact. Research is needed to better establish the environmental inventory and fate of CF₃COOH.

1. CIAP Monograph 3, The Stratosphere Perturbed by Propulsion Effluents, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, D.C. (1975).

2. P.J. Crutzen. ''The Influence of Nitrogen Oxides on the Atmospheric Ozone Content,'' Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 96, 320-325 (1970).

3. F.S. Rowland and M.J. Molina, "Chlorofluoromethanes in the Environment," Rev. Geophys. Space Phys. 13, 1-36 (1975).

4. World Meteorological Organization, Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion (1994).

5. R. Stolarski, R. Bojkov, L. Bishop, J. Staehelin, and J. Zawodny, "Measured Trends in Stratospheric Ozone," Science 256, 342-349 (1992).

6. World Meteorological Organization, Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion (1994); World Meteorological Organization, Global Ozone Research and Monitoring Project, Report No. 37D, Geneva (1995).

7. World Meteorological Organization, Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion (1994); World Meteorological Organization, Global Ozone Research and Monitoring Project, Report No. 37D, Geneva (1995).

8. J.C. Farman, B.G. Gardiner, and J.D. Shanklin, "Large Losses of Total Ozone in Antarctica Reveal Seasonal ClO_x/NO_x Interaction," Nature 315, 207-210 (1985).

9. J.G. Anderson, D.W. Toohey, et al. "Free Radicals Within the Antarctic Vortex: The Role of CFCs in Antarctic Ozone Loss," Science 251, 39-46 (1991).

10. D.J. Wuebbles, "Weighing Functions for Ozone Depletion and Greenhouse Gas Effects on Climate," Ann. Rev. Energy Environ. 20, 45-70 (1995).

11. World Meteorological Organization, Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion (1994); World Meteorological Organization, Global Ozone Research and Monitoring Project, Report No. 37D, Geneva (1995).

12. S. Solomon, J.B. Burkholder, A.R. Ravishankara, and R.R. Garcia, J. Geophys. Res. 99, 20929-20935 (1994).

13. D.J. Wuebbles, P.S. Connell, and K.O. Patten, "Evaluating the Potential Effects of Halon Replacements on the Global Environment" in Halon Replacements: Technology and Science, A.W. Miziolek and W. Tsang, Eds., American Chemical Society, Washington, D.C. (1995).

14. S. Solomon, R.R. Garcia, and A.R. Ravishankara, J. Geophys. Res. 99, 20491-20499 (1994).

15. D.J. Wuebbles, P.S. Connell, and K.O. Patten, "Evaluating the Potential Effects of Halon Replacements on the Global Environment" in Halon Replacements: Technology and Science, A.W. Miziolek and W. Tsang, Eds., American Chemical Society, Washington, D.C. (1995).

16. World Meteorological Organization, Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion (1994); World Meteorological Organization, Global Ozone Research and Monitoring Project, Report No. 37D, Geneva (1995).

17. T.J. Wallington, W.F. Schneider, J. Sehested, and O.J. Nielsen, "Hydrofluorocarbons and Stratospheric Ozone," Faraday Discussions 100, 55 (1995).

18. World Meteorological Organization, Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion (1994); World Meteorological Organization, Global Ozone Research and Monitoring Project, Report No. 37D, Geneva (1995).

19. D.J. Wuebbles, J. Geophys. Res. 88, 1433-1443 (1983).