Ozone Depletion

Tight weave clothing, and hats, protect against the sun's rays. Tanning beds, while popular, are also ... ... middle of paper ... ...ening diseases. Conclusions Stratospheric ozone absorbs 97-99% of ultraviolet radiation. As this protective layer continues to dissentigrate, human health will suffer. One American dies every hour from skin cancer, a direct result of ozone depletion by anthropogenic chemicals, primarily CFCs, which damage the ozone layer.

Chlorine is a chemical that disintegrates the ozone. Other everyday items that contribute Cottrell 2 to the devastation of the ozone include household refrigerants and exhaust fumes emitted from automobiles. Without the ozone layer the health of every single living being on planet Earth would be jeopardized. Ozone depletion leads to an increased exposure to ultraviolet light, which can cause many health problems. Exposure to ultraviolet light greatly increases the risks of skin cancer and cataract development.

Holes in the Ozone Layer Ozone, 03 is a highly important component of the earth's atmosphere. Close to the ground ozone, is produced by the action of light on exhaust fumes and so concentrates in areas of heavy traffic. In this was it can be a pollutant, it corrodes metal, can inhibit plant growth and cause irritation to the lungs and throat. Up in the stratosphere though, about 15-50km above the earth surface, ozone is beneficial as it intercepts much of the suns UV (ultraviolet) radiation that would otherwise reach the earth. Over exposure to UV causes damage to DNA in cells and increases chances of mutations.

Ozone is debatibly the most important thin known man. The survival of the human race is really dependent upon the ozone layer. If we keep using these dangerous chemicals, such as CFC, found in arisol cans, we could ultimatly destroy the ozone layer. If we destroy the ozone layer then we are really killling ourselves. If the ozone layer is destroyed then powerful ultriviolent rays will penitrate the earth and everyone would get skin cancer and eventually die.

Depletion of the Ozone Layer The atmospheric ozone layer protects all living things from the harmful effects of the Sun. In recent years however, much damage has been caused to the ozone layer, causing it to decrease in size. The depletion of the ozone layer has and will continue to have many detrimental effects on all living things on this planet. A thinner layer will allow more of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation to reach the Earth’s surface. In particular, it will be the increase of UV-B rays which will have the most negative side effects.

These polar stratospheric clouds destroy the ozone layer at a much faster pace then the industrial halocarbons. The depletion of the ozone layer is a great threat to mankind and all other living things on earth because without this layer of chemicals, we will be exposed to excess UV rays. This excess exposure can lead to many things such as malignant melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer, damage to eyes by means such as snow blindness and cataracts, which is the clouding of the eye that can eventually lead to blindness. Above all this, excessive UV exposure can lead to symptoms similar to AIDS as prolonged exposure could weaken the human immune system. As far as plants and animals go, plants may die or may not be as healthy as a result of too much UV exposure and animals will suffer

Our Radiant Planet: Depletion of the Ozone Layer Ozone is a relatively unstable form of molecular oxygen containing three oxygen atoms produced when upper-atmosphere oxygen molecules are split by ultra violet light. Stratospheric ozone is found in a broad band, extending generally from 15 to 35km above the earth. Although the ozone layer is surprisingly thin, it acts as a protective shield to the earth, as it filters out most of the harmful solar ultraviolet radiation (in particular UV-B) that would otherwise reach our planets surface. Humans have damaged the ozone layer by adding molecules containing chlorine and/or bromine that lead to ozone destruction. The largest group among these are chloroflurocarbons (CFC's).

But we are depleting the amount of it that we still have with chlorofluorocarbons and other harmful gases. It blocks harmful UV radiation in the atmosphere from reaching the surface and keeps us safe from the effects of radiation exposure such as skin cancer, cataracts, sun burnt eyes, and possibly the lowering of our immune system, but it also contributes to the greenhouse gas effect and affects health if it sinks down too low to the surface. (Kimbrough 8) Having ozone is like playing with fire, we need it so badly to protect us from UV rays but it can cause damaging effects such as lowering our life expectancy if we breath is directly. In the 1920’s, chlorofluorocarbons started to be used in refrigeration. Unfortunately this was the beginning of a large problem in the atmosphere.

These compounds are chemically inert gasses that, when introduced to the stratosphere, speed up the depletion of the ozone layer. The reason that these chemicals are so harmful is that after a CFC molecule is broken up by UV radiation in the stratosphere, its Chlorine atom is free to react with the ozone molecules in the atmosphere. Because Chlorine is a catalyst, it continues to react with other ozone molecules causing continuous damage and depletion of the ozone, as can be seen from the chart of CFC reactions below. As the ozone layer continues to be depleted, more harmful ultraviolet rays are able to penetrate the earth's atmosphere and are absorbed by its surface. Although the sun's emissions of UV rays remain constant, decreases in stratospheric ozone levels cause a reduction in the Earth's protection from the sun's harmful rays.

The Toxicological Consequences of the Chernobyl Accident Radiation has both beneficial and harmful effects. The most detrimental health effect on humans, is the incidence of cancer, which has been studied. Humans are exposed to radiation more than they realize. They are exposed medically with x-rays, just by being outside with cosmic rays, and by accidents such as at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Exposure to radiation is high and more studies are done which improve radiation protection.