What is the ozone layer?
The ozone layer is the part of the upper atmosphere where ozone(O3) is found. It absorbs a potion of the radiation from the sun, preventing most of it from reaching the ground. Most importantly, it absorbs ultraviolet(UV) radiation.
However, the ozone layer is depleting over the years because of human activities.
What causes Ozone Layer Depletion?
The main reason of the depletion of ozone layer is the chemicals called “ozone-depleting substances(ODS)”. One of the chemicals are chlorofluorocarbons – CFCs, which contains reactive chlorine atoms to destroy the ozone. A CFC is a molecule that contains the elements: carbon, chlorine, and fluorine. CFCs are everywhere, mostly in refrigerants and plastic products.
Ozone molecules, which are made of three oxygen atoms, are destroyed and reformed naturally. However, the CFCs in the air make it difficult for the ozone to reform. Hence, the ozone layer, which makes up 0.00006 percent of the Earth’s atmosphere is getting thinner and thinner every day.
There are other ODS which include halons, which are found in some fire extinguishers; methyl chloroform, used mainly for vapour degreasing, aerosols, cold cleaning, adhesives and chemical processing; carbon tetrachloride, which are used in solvents and some fire extinguishers; hydrofluorocarbons (HCFCs).
How ozone is destroyed by CFCs
What are the effects of Ozone Depletion?
Depletion of the ozone will allow more UV radiations to reach the Earth’s surface and exposure to high amounts of UV radiation could have serious impacts on human beings, animals and plants.
UV radiation can harm the human health, more risks of developing skin cancer, sunburns and premature aging of the eye. In addition, more cataracts, blindness and other eye diseases can occur as UV radiation can damage several parts of the eye.
For the domestic animals, skin and eye cancer may also occur. As for marine animals, UV radiation can cause damage to early developmental stages of fish, shrimp, crab, amphibians and other animals.
Plants’ growth and development stages are also affected by the increasing amounts of UV radiation.
What can we do about Ozone Depletion?
We can prevent it by not buying portable fire extinguishers that contain halon and not recharging air-conditioners and refrigerators with CFCs.
We can also by protect ourselves from the UV radiation by avoiding prolonged exposure from the sun, applying sunscreen, wearing protective clothing, etc.
References
http://www.ozoneminnesota.com/ozone-therapy/ozone-molecule/
http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/encyclopedia/ozone-layer/?ar_a=1
http://www.theozonehole.com/ozonedestruction.htm
http://www.bcairquality.ca/101/individual-ozone-depletion.html
http://www.weatherquestions.com/What_is_the_ozone_layer.htm
http://www.epa.gov/spdpublc/science/effects/index.html
http://www.dynamicscience.com.au/tester/solutions1/chemistry/greenhouse/cfc.htm
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