We're making progress
The following two examples — DDT and CFCs — show that we've been making progress on reducing the use of harmful substances, but there's much more that can be done.

DDT was the grandfather of all pesticides, lauded for its bug-killing prowess — but it was found to be highly toxic to birds, fish and amphibians, and as its effects magnified up the food chain, its adverse effects on human health were recognized as well. Public outcry resulted in its subsequent ban in the U.S.

Another environmental success story is the repair of the hole in the ozone layer through an international ban on CFCs. Sparing you the chemical details, CFCs were found to be responsible for the hole in the ozone that leads to increase in skin cancer (they also contribute to global warming). Found commonly in refrigerators, air conditioners and aerosols, CFCs were banned on a global scale when an international treaty phasing out CFCs was enacted. Today, the ozone layer has already shown signs of recovery. Hooray!

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