Ozone Depletion

The Ozone layer is depleting due to man made chemicals we use everyday; this depletion causes an increase in the risk of someone developing skin cancer, and is potentially life-threatening. The ozone layer is a gas that protects the earth from the dangerous UV rays emitted from the sun. (Freedman, page 2934) Due to man made chemicals, the ozone layer is depleting which causes many problems for sustainable life on earth. The rays entering the earth’s stratosphere without the ozone layer will cause damage to many things, such as someone’s eyes or immune system, aquatic life, or plants. Another one of the consequences of ozone layer depletion is that it will cause an increase in the risk of developing skin cancer.

Man made chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) cause a hole in the ozone. CFCs are halogens used in refrigerants, cleaning solvents, aerosol propellants, and blowing agents. CFCs do not affect the lower parts of the atmosphere, such as the troposphere, it only affects the stratosphere; the stratosphere is the layer of the ozone layer that protects earth from UV radiation.(Freedman, 857-858) According to research done by Bill Freedman, “Once formed in the stratosphere by the degradation of a CFC molecule, a single chlorine atom is capable of destroying as many as 100,000 ozone molecules before it is removed from the upper atmosphere.” (Freedman, 2935) This shows the damage that even a very small amount of chlorofluorocarbons can do; one hundred thousand molecules of the ozone layer are destroyed by one single CFC molecule. Since items people use in their everyday lives can do that much damage to the ozone layer, we should find a replacement chemical that does not harm the stratosphere. Studies have shown that the ozo...

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...ere, people are not going out with the proper protection. People should protect their skin by limiting their time indoors and when outside, protecting their exposed skin with SPF. People should especially avoid going outside during 10 am and 4 pm, as thats when the UV rays are the strongest. (Nunas, 8)

The ozone layer is depleting due to chlorofluorocarbons, a man made chemical that has other replacements. Due to this depletion, toxic ultraviolet radiation is entering the earth's stratosphere from the sun. UV rays are destroying our plants and the aquatic food chain, as well harming ourselves. UV radiation causes people to be at a higher risk of skin cancer, including malignant melanoma. These threats have increased, because we are continuing to do things that will cause the ozone layer to deplete. This is a serious problem and we all need to do something to stop it.