For inventing aerosol spray paint.
In the 1940s, the concept of aerosol was already in use by a bug spray from the U.S. Army. Edward Seymour built upon this idea and invented spray paint after a suggestion from his wife. The innovation was ingenious and became immediately popular. His very first color, “aluminum,” revolutionized the paint industry.
Unfortunately, like most things, the invention had a serious downside: The propellant, made from chlorofluorocarbons, was adversely affecting the earth’s ozone layer. If you are not aware, this protective atmospheric layer is critical to life on this planet because it protects us from the sun’s harmful radiation and ultraviolet rays (see RIFE №011).
After it was discovered that CFCs were harmful to the ozone, several nations and organizations worked together to ban the use of the propellant on a global scale.
I know you didn’t mean to, Edward, but you put holes in our ozone layer.
If that’s not bad enough, you also gave delinquent kids a medium to express their “art” all over buildings and bridges. Prior to the invention of aerosol paint, the prevalence of graffiti was low, since carrying brushes and paint cans was a bit cumbersome. And I won’t even get into the “huffing” subculture you instigated.
Whatever happened to our depleting ozone layer anyway? Did it ever re-plete? Will someone please ask Al Gore for me?