A new chemical can now be used in products without counting as air pollution

US environmental regulators are changing the rules for what counts as a volatile organic compound. They are adding a specific chemical, HCFO-1224yd(Z), to the list of substances that do not contribute to smog.

Companies that make refrigerants, aerosols, and other products containing this chemical can now use it without it counting towards their air pollution limits. This means they can potentially increase production or use the chemical in new applications without facing additional regulatory hurdles for air quality. It effectively makes the chemical cheaper to use by removing a regulatory cost.