What is the Ozone Layer?
The ozone layer or ozone shield is a region of Earth's stratosphere that absorbs most of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation. It contains high concentrations of ozone (O3) in relation to other parts of the atmosphere. The ozone layer contains less than 10 parts per million of ozone, while the average ozone concentration in Earth's atmosphere as a whole is about 0.3 parts per million.
The earth's atmosphere is divided into several layers, and each layer plays an important role. The first region extending about 10km upwards from the earth's surface is called the troposphere. Many human activities like mountain climbing, gas balloons and smaller aircrafts operate within this region.
The next layer, extending about 15-60
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This problem was first noticed by Jonathan Shanklin. This region’s low temperatures speed up the conversion of CFCs to chlorine. In the southern spring and summer, when the sun shines for long periods of the day, chlorine reacts with ultraviolet rays, destroying ozone on a massive scale, up to 65 percent. This is what some people erroneously refer to as the "ozone hole." In other regions, the ozone layer has deteriorated by about 20 percent. About 90 percent of CFCs currently in the atmosphere were emitted by industrialized countries in the Northern Hemisphere, including the United States and Europe. These countries banned CFCs by 1996, and the amount of chlorine in the atmosphere is falling now. But scientists estimate it will take another 50 years for chlorine levels to return to their natural …show more content…
Malignant melanoma, basal and squamous cell carcinoma are the most common cancers caused by exposure to UV rays.
Eye Damage: UV rays are harmful for our eyes too. Direct exposure to UV rays can lead to Cataract problems, and also Photokeratitis or snow blindness.
Damage to Immune system: our immune system is also highly vulnerable to UV rays. Increased exposure to UV rays can lead to weakening of the response of immune system and even impairment of the immune system in extreme cases.
Aging of skin: exposure to UV rays can lead to acceleration of the aging process of your skin. This will result in you looking older than what you actually are. It can also lead to photo allergy that result in outbreak of rashes in fair skinned people
In humans, exposure to UV rays can also lead to difficulty in breathing, chest pain, and throat irritation and can even lead to hampering of lung
When people are exposed to UV light, from the sun or, for example, in a tanning booth, the melanocyte cells make more melanin and pack together tighter, resulting in darker skin tones. If the skin is receiving too much ultraviolet light, the melanocytes may begin to grow abnormally and become melanoma during this process.
Tanning can be harsh to your skin. The light coming from the sun contains different wavelengths of ultra violet (UV) waves. The two types of waves concerned about are UVA rays and UVB rays. UVA rays are long waves that cause more damage than a UVB ray. UVA rays penetrate deeper into your skin and cause tanning (“The Dangers of”). More and more exposure to UVA rays can cause permanent damage ...
Tanning affects the human skin through ultraviolet radiation, part of the spectrum of light that omits from the sun to the surface of the earth. Ultraviolet A rays are the longer ultraviolet rays that are projected, and these rays penetrate deep into the layers of skin, causing a tanning effect (Harvard Women's Health Watch, 2). It does this by penetrating into the lower layers of skin, or the epidermis, and triggering cells known as melanocytes to make melanin, the brown pigment that causes tanning (Hyde, Patrice, MD, 1). They account for most of the ultraviolet components emitted by lamps in tanning beds, because they are associated with an almost immediate tanning effect (Brady, Mary S, 2). The shorter rays are ultraviolet B rays, and these rays only reach the outer superficial skin cell layer, also known as the epidermis (Harvard Women's Health Watch, 2). UVB rays, therefore, are the actual cause of sunbur...
Sun shine contain ultraviolet ray which can cause the sunburn or even skin cancer. According to Cancer Council in Australia, Australia has highest incident rate of skin cancer in the world. More than 430000 Australians are diagnosed with skin cancer each year. There are approximately 60 percent of people who have got skin cancer will survive greater than five years after they diagnosis (Cancer Council Australia, 2014). In order to protect people under the sun, the sun protective behaviour is significant necessary.
Over all, skin cancer is known to be a very common and dangerous cancer among the U.S.. Although there is no superior or particular cause known for it, it can be reduced by reducing radiation exposure from the sun and also tanning booths and beds. If not attempting to prevent it by staying out of the sun, and seeking not seeking shade and so forth, protection such as longer clothing garments that better cover the body as well as hats and sunglasses can help to eliminate direct exposure and reduce some of the damages that may occur. Certain amounts of sun light are healthy for the body as it provides vitamin- D which the body needs to maintain a healthy life style, though it is crucial not be over exposed as reverse side affects may occur, causing more harm than good.
Melanoma skin cancer has multiple causes. The biggest and newest cause of melanoma skin cancer is a result of tanning in salon tanning beds. As said by Zoe D. Draelos, MD, FAAD, consulting professor, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC “What they may not realize is that no matter whether you tan or burn, a tan from the sun or tanning beds damages the skin and may cause wrinkles, age spots, and skin cancer.” Now more than ever every day routines consist of going to the tanning salon. Adults are beginning to take their children to start tanning at young ages exposing them to the UV radiation that causes melanoma.
Scientists have performed many different tests and studies to learn more about high exposure to UV. Close observation of cells have shown that sunlight, natural or artificial, can cause mutations or DNA damage in cells. This can lead to further damage which will then be passed down through generations. Another study scientists perform is on animals. Scientist will expose your typical lab animals to UV rays, and this test typically results in skin cancer on the animal. These studies have been performed with UVA, UVB, and UVC, and they have all proven
Surprisingly, even with these astonishing numbers people still continue to put themselves at risk everyday. The solution to all this is very simple, we all need to wear sunscreen when planning to expose ourselves to the sun. There are also other everyday preventive measures that we can take to decrease our chances of harmful exposure to the sun. It is always helpful to wear a shirt and a hat with a broad brim. Wear sunglasses that absorb 99%-100% of UV rays to help your block your eyes and the skin around your eyes from these harmful rays. The two most important things for most people who like to tan are to seek shade frequently and to never use tanning beds. You can put your body at even more of a higher risk of contracting skin cancer when staying in the constant heat.
When CFC molecules reach the stratosphere, the sun's radiation breaks it apart, freeing the chorine atom to destroy ozone molecules. The effect is a growing ozone hole which forms over Antarctica in October and usually lasts through mid November. During the annual ozone hole, the amount of UV radiation that reaches the Earth can double. Ozone depletion serves as a major health risk for human beings. The three primary health effects of ultraviolet radiation on human health are damage to the skin,eyes, and immune system.
Skin cancer is a disease where cancer (malignant) cells are found on the outer layer of the skin (epidermis). The three types of cells found in the epidermis are squamous cells, basal cells, and melanocytes. These cells in time grow to be cancerous. Thus, the three types of skin cancers are squamous cell, basal cell, and melanoma. Melanoma is the most deadliest and destructive type of cancer. (“Skin Cancer” infotrac.com) The number of people with melanoma has risen in Scotland from 3.5 in 1979 to 10.6 per 100,000 in 1998 for men and 7.0 to 13.1 for women. (Miller 945) Squamous cell and Basal cell skin cancer can kill up to 2,200 people a year in the United States. (Sommerfield SIRS.com) Basal cell, being the most common type of skin cancer, is the cancer that about 75 percent of the people have. (“Skin Cancer “ infotrac.com) Melanoma is mostly seen in older men but ever since tanning came in during the 1970’s, it has increased in women 60 percent around the ages 15-29 over the past three decades.(Sommerfield SIRS.com) “And basal cell and squamous cell cancers are increasing at a rate of about 5 percent per year”(Sommerfield SIRS.com).
The sun’s rays contain two types of ultraviolet radiation that reach the skin, UVA and UVB.
The major environmental risk factor for melanoma is overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. People who have fair skin that burns or freckles easily need to be especially careful in the sun as protecting yourself against UV overexposure is an important way you can help reduce your risk of developing melanoma.
The ozone layer diminishes more each year. As the area of polar ozone depletion (commonly called the ozone hole) gets larger, additional ultraviolet rays are allowed to pass through. These rays cause cancer, cataracts, and lowered immunity to diseases.1 What causes the depletion of the ozone layer?
Probably the most commonly used word by your dermatologist, your beautician, your pharmacist or just the girl next door, and for a good reason. The sun’s damaging UV rays can single-handedly destroy your skin over time and in some cases even cause irreparable damage. It will burn your skin, dry it out, destroy collagen fibers and predispose you to cancer. Whether it’s a scorching sun or not, whether you are outdoors or not, sunscreen is an everyday must-wear. You have a choice.
We need the sun for everything; food, transportation, education, and just to live. The sun negatively affects us in our daily lives because our skin is sensitive to the sun. This means that we are prone to burn. A way to protect our skin is with sunscreen. The short-term effect of not wearing sunscreen when exposed to the sun is you can get a painful rash or peeling of skin can occur. Long-term effects of not protecting yourself from the sun can be that it changes your DNA or gives you skin cancer. It changes your DNA by radiation smashing into you skin. The reason why this is so dangerous is because the DNA will now instruct the skin to fix itself because of the radiation, but the instructions would have been changed. It can also speed up