Name
Institution
Course
Date
Definition of Ozone depletion
The ozone layer a region found within the earth’s atmosphere that prevents UV radiation from reaching the earth. It absorbs approximately 97-99% of the UV radiations from the sun that would otherwise destroy the different life forms in the earth’s surface. It is also known as the ozone shield and is highly concentrated with the ozone gas as compared to other parts of the earth. However, the ozone gas is still quite small as compared to other gases within the stratosphere. The ozone layer is located in the lower part of the stratosphere from a height of about 20 to 30 kilometers and approximately 12 to 19 mi over the earth (Parker, Larry, and Wayne 256-270). However, its thickness varies according to seasons and geography. The destruction of this ozone layer is known as ozone depletion. It can also occur in form of a springtime decrease of the stratospheric ozone over the polar region of the earth. The latter phenomena are known as the ozone hole. The damage is as a result of chemicals that are released into on the earth’s surface. Unlike pollution that is of different types and caused by different things, ozone depletion is mainly as a result of human activity. Just like any other environmental problem, ozone depletion is troubling. Ozone depletion is among the major environmental issues as stated by different nations on earth (Cooper 118).
Causes of ozone depletion
Today, there is an increased concern on the depletion of the ozone layer that results from the release of pollution that contains chemicals. Industries manufacture different things such as solvents, insulating foams, soaps, cooling things such as Air conditioners and refrigerators, aerosols, and cleaners using chlorofluorocarbons. These are normally heavier as compared to air but throughout time they end up reaching the stratosphere through the action of wind. The damage occurs when the chemicals release bromine or chlorine in highly reactive forms. When the CFC’s reach the atmosphere’s upper part they, get exposed to the UV rays causing them to break down into substances such as chlorine. The oxygen atoms in the ozone layer react with the chlorine leading to the destruction of the ozone molecule. According to the U.S Environmental protection agency, an atom of chlorine is capable of destroying over a thousand molecules of ozone. There are also some chemicals that destroy the ozone layer naturally these are Clx, Noy and Hox, which belong to the Chlorine, Nitrogen and Hydrogen families.
Ozone depletion is also caused by volcanic eruption. During a volcanic eruption, massive clouds of ashes are released into the troposphere, and they move upwards into the stratosphere. The volcanic ashes are highly concentrated with Chlorine and Bromine gases. These ashes can stay within the stratosphere for over five years and within this time chemical reactions can occur leading to the destruction of the ozone molecules found in the stratosphere. Hydrogen chloride an ozone destroying gas is also found in volcanic ash and can lead to ozone layer depletion. Though human activities like emissions and pollution send a lot of halogen gases into the stratosphere, volcanoes contain twice as much halogens compared to those from human activities. The potential of ozone depletion is higher from volcanic ash as compared to human activities.
Impacts of continued depletion
Increased UV radiation
The ozone layer absorbs UV light from the sun and hence its continued depletion leads to an increase of the UV radiations reaching the surface of the earth. The amount of UV radiation that can get through ozone layer decreases with the density of this layer. The depletion of the ozone layer leads to the UV radiations getting to the surface of the earth more frequently. The less the ozone layer, the less protection it is and hence the more the UV radiations reach the earth. Therefore, a decrease in atmospheric ozone results to increased UV radiation levels near the earth’s surface.
Biological effects
The increased amount of UV radiation has an effect on human health. The energy radiated from the sun is emitted in different wavelengths. There is visible light what we can see, infra-red which is felt as heat and ultraviolet UV rays which are not seen or felt. The UV rays have different wavelengths and short wavelengths are stronger and cause more damage. There are three basic types of UV rays (Solomon 280).
The UVA has a long wavelength of about 315-399nm, and it reaches the surface of the earth all the time. UVA helps in the generation of vitamin D necessary for all living things. UVB is 280-314nm and more dangerous due to its shortness. It damages both plant and animal cells once it reaches the surface of the earth. UVB rarely reaches the surface of the earth, but the ozone depletion leads to a lot of it filtering into the earth’s surface. UVC is shortest in wavelength about 100-279nm. It is the most damaging and mostly absorbed by the ozone layer.
Ozone depletion would bring a change to the effects of the UV radiations on the health of humans both positively and negatively.
The excess amount UV radiation that is absorbed by the ozone is a factor that contributes to skin cancer as well as the production of Vitamin D. Increased UV radiation leads to an increase in the tropospheric ozone which poses various health risks to humans. The common forms of skin cancer caused by the exposure to UVB are squamous cell carcinoma and basal. The mode of cancer induction through UVB rays is something that is well understood. Absorption of UVB leads to the formation of dimers by the pyrimidine base of DNA molecules. It results to errors in transcription during DNA replication. These cancers are mild, and they rarely cause death through the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma needs an extensive reconstructive surgery. Another form of skin cancer from the exposure of UVB is malignant melanoma. It is quite uncommon but very dangerous resulting to 15-20% of deaths in the diagnosed cases. It also increases the photo-aging rates in humans (Solomon 276).
The exposure to UV radiations also leads to the formation of cataracts. Cataract is an eye disease that leads to the formation of clouds within the lens of the eyes. Increased exposure to UV rays also affects the human immune system. It leads to a reduction in resistance to tumors and other infections. It also has the potential of reducing the effectiveness of vaccines and leads to more severe allergies ((Harvey 69).
Effects on plants
Extreme levels of UV rays can lead to damage on plants. UV rays negatively affect the developmental and physiological processes. These include how the plants form, its timing of development and growth, the distribution of the nutrients of the plants and its metabolism. These changes have implications for the competitive balance of the plant, the animals that feed on these plants, biogeochemical cycles and plant diseases.
Effects on marine the ecosystem
The ozone depletion also affects the marine environment. The foundation of aquatic food webs is phytoplankton. They grow near the surface of the water where they have access to enough sunlight. The changes in the levels of UV rays have an impact phytoplankton grow, and develop and this directly affects the fish that consume them as food. UV radiation also impacts the development stages of fish, crab, amphibians, shrimp and other animals. Ozone depletion leads to animals on the higher part of the food chain that feed on the small fishes being affected.
Ozone depletion also affects the biogeochemical cycles. High levels of UV rays have an effect on the natural balance of gases and the greenhouse gases in the biosphere. These include the balance of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, carbonyl sulfide and the ozone gas. A change in the UV rays level results to biosphere-atmosphere feedback that results from the build-up of these gases within the atmosphere (Harvey 70).
Measures to reduce the ozone depletion
The ozone layer is the only way we are protected against the harmful UV rays from the sun. Therefore, we all need to try our best to protect the depletion of the Ozone layer. The ozone layer depletion can be reduced or prevented through various ways.
Using eco-friendly household products
The use of natural cleaning products and eco-friendly products when doing chores in the house is a good way of preventing the depletion of the ozone layer. Most of the cleaning agents have toxic chemicals in them which might end up interfering with the ozone layer. Currently, there are health stores and supermarkets that sell cleaning products that are free from toxins. These are made from natural ingredients, and these are safe for use and can not cause ozone depletion.
Limiting the use of private vehicles
Limiting or reducing driving vehicles can help in controlling ozone depletion since emissions from vehicles leads to the formation of smog. Smog causes the depletion of the ozone layer. Reducing of vehicle driving cam be achieved through car pooling, the us4e of public transport, using bicycles, and walking. Another option would be switching to cars that are electric or have engines that are zero-emission.
The ban of dangerous nitrous oxide
The ozone depletion has become a worldwide issue of concern. It has led to different countries worldwide coming together to form the Montreal Protocol whose aim is to stop the use of CFCs. However, nitrous oxide was not part of this protocol. Nitrous oxide is a very fatal chemical with the capacity of destroying the ozone layer. Unfortunately, it is still being used hence governments all over the world should come out strongly and ban it in order to save the ozone layer.
Avoiding pesticides
Pesticides provide an easy solution for destroying weeds, but they are quite harmful to the ozone layer. People should strive to use natural remedies as opposed to the use of pesticides. Natural remedies include weeding manually or regularly mowing farms in order to avoid the growth of weeds.
We all need to take part in the protection of the ozone layer because its destruction affects us directly.
Works cited
Parker, Larry, and Wayne A. Morrissey. Stratospheric Ozone Depletion. New York: Novinka, 2003. Print.
Cooper, Mary H. Ozone Depletion. Washington, D.C.: CQ, 2002. Print.
Harvey, Trevor. “Ozone Depletion.” The Environmentalist (2004): 69-70. Print.
Solomon, Susan. “Stratospheric Ozone Depletion: A Review Of Concepts And History.” Reviews of Geophysics (2010): 275-316. Print.
