A collective term for the group of partially halogenated organic species, including the chlorofluorocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons, halons, methyl chloride, methyl bromide, etc. These compounds, some of which are naturally occurring (largely through production in the oceans) and some of which are of anthropogenic origin (use as solvents, foam blowing agents, refrigerants, etc. ), are the major source of the halogens (F, Cl, Br, I) to the stratosphere.