KOTA KINABALU: A seven-month study conducted in Antarctica during winter has uncovered new findings that pose a challenge to the Montreal Protocol, according to Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) scientist Professor Dr Justin Sentian.

The Montreal Protocol is a global agreement made in 1987 to protect the Earth's ozone layer by phasing out the production and use of harmful chemicals, like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

These chemicals were used in things like refrigerators, air conditioners, and spray cans but were found to damage the ozone layer, which protects us from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun.