The Poisoning Of Our Ozone Essay, Research Paper

The Poisoning of Our Ozone Layer

The toxic condition of the Earth? s ozone bed is progressively pulling worldwide

concern for the planetary environment and the wellness effects of life on the Planet Earth.

There is non merely one peculiar cause for the ozone? s depletion ; the accretion of

different pollutants into our ozone bed has all added up and equaled a worldwide

job. There is non merely one consequence from the toxic condition of the ozone, but alternatively

multiple branchings from diseases to decease. The harm to the ozone is increasing

with every second ; furthermore, there are many ways we can assist cut down the job

and continue the ozone bed.

Ozone is a pale blue gaseous signifier of O, in chemical signifier it is besides

known as O3. Ozone can be good or harmful depending on its location in the

Earth? s atmosphere. If the ozone is located in the troposphere ( which extends from

the surface of the Earth up to approxiametly10 stat mis ) it is a harmful pollutant and a

major constituent in smog and other environmental wellness jobs. Such

tropospheric ozone can damage plastic, gum elastic, works and carnal tissue. Ozone

located about 10-25 stat mis above the Earth? s surface, in a portion of the

Earth? s atmosphere called the stratosphere is really good. The ozone is a major

factor that makes life possible on Earth. About 90 % of the planet? s ozone is in the

ozone bed. Ozone in this bed shields and filters out the Earth from 95-99 per centum

the Sun? s UV radiation. A low degree of ozone does non protect or forestall the

Sun? s

ultraviolet beams from making the surface of the Earth, hence, overexposing life

on Earth doing many diseases. The depletion of the ozone is caused by many

factors, but the one cause that will be elaborated on in the following paragraph is the

chief ground our ozone is continuously being poisoned.

The major cause in the depletion of the Earth? s ozone bed is because of the

release of CFCs into the ambiance. Chlorofluorocarbons besides known

as Chlorofluorocarbons, are industrially produced chemical compounds that contain the elements

Cl, F, C, and sometimes H that will interrupt down the

protective ozone in the ambiance. Since Chlorofluorocarbons are heavier than air, the procedure of

Chlorofluorocarbons making the ozone will by and large take from two to five old ages to acquire into the

stratosphere. When CFCs reach the stratosphere, the Sun? s UV radiation

do them to interrupt apart. Therefore, the Cl atoms inside the Chlorofluorocarbons are

released and will respond with ozone, get downing a chemical devastation rhythm of ozone. To

demo the extent of devastation Cl can bring forth, one Cl atom can interrupt

apart more than 100,000 molecules of ozone. Chlorofluorocarbons are non

of course produced chemical, but shockingly are all semisynthetic merchandises. Chlorofluorocarbons

merchandises and other ozone consuming substance are everyplace and come in all signifiers

such as: aerosol spray tins, industrial cleansing agents, dielectrics, Styrofoam? s,

coolants, car air conditioners, place air conditioners and iceboxs ( see next the

pie chart on following page for more information ) . Majority of CFCs lending to

depletion is the car air conditioners in our autos. The CFCs inside car and place air

conditioning systems, every bit good as in iceboxs can leak out, and finally will lift

into the ambiance destructing the ozone bed.

Harmonizing to Greenpeace, ? The industries of Chlorofluorocarbons and other ozone consuming

merchandises include: Dupont, Elf-Atochem, ICI, LaRouche, Rhone Poulenc, Nippon

Halon, and Allied Signal? ( Greenpeace ) . The entire value of all the ozone depleting

merchandises since 1986 exceeded $ 30.6 billion, with the United States bring forthing a big

bulk of the merchandises.

There are other elements and semisynthetic chemicals that contribute to the

ozone depletion. Any signifier of elemental Br that reacts with ozone is really

violotile. For examaple, methyl bromide is a compound that is used as a pesticide and

fumigant ; the interruption down of Br atoms in pesticides due to the Sun? s beams, can

be more than 40 times every bit destructive to ozone molecules than Cl atoms. Halons

which are used in fire asphyxiators contain Br and are besides depleters of the

ozone. Another merchandise that is destructive is methyl chlorofoam, in which are

dissolvers in industrial procedures. Hydrochlorofluorocarbons are known as Hydrochlorofluorocarbons,

they are categorized as category II ozone depleting substances because these merchandises do

non consume the ozone every bit much as Chlorofluorocarbons. Hydrofluorocarbons are presently being used as

replacings for Chlorofluorocarbons, even though they deplete the ozone to some extent.

Man-made chemicals are non the lone manner ozone depletion can happen ; natural

depletion is besides a ground the ozone bed is thinning.

Natural depletion is another ground why ozone depletion takes topographic point.

Ultraviolet visible radiation in the ambiance breaks down the ozone molecules into molecular

O and atomic O, in a procedure called photolysis. Natural H oxides

history for about 11 % of all natural depletions. Nitrogen oxides are responsible for

50-70 % of all natural depletions. Vents and oceans of course emit big sums

of Cl, but they easy dissolve in H2O and are washed out by rain, hence,

the Cl does non make the stratosphere to consume the ozone. Natural depletors

are factors we truly do non hold much control over ; nevertheless, we do hold control

over the semisynthetic chemicals.

The cutting of the ozone bed that protects us from ultraviolet radiation is

increasing and branchings will hold legion world-wide effects on human life.

Statisticss and research lab experimental surveies have proven the addition exposure to

ultraviolet beams can do actinic keratoses, melanoma and nonmelanoma malignant neoplastic diseases.

Excessive or even mild exposure to ultraviolet radiation can besides do oculus diseases

such as: cataracts ( loss of focal point in the lens which clouds vision ) , pterygium ( tissue

growing on the white of the oculus that can barricade vision ) , skin malignant neoplastic diseases around the eyes,

sightlessness, and devolution of the sunspot. Harmonizing to the Envionment Protection

Agency, ? It is estimated that a sustained 10 percent loss of ozone could take to a 26

per centum addition in the figure of instances of nonmelanoma tegument malignant neoplastic disease per twelvemonth

worlwide? and? At the same clip, 1.6 million extra cataract instances per twelvemonth

could happen? ( Envionment Protection Agency ) . The addition of ultraviolet radiation

because of the decrease of ozone will besides immune systlem suppression. Scientist

hold found that overexposure to the Sun can change the map and distribution of

white blood cells ( disease- combat cells ) in worlds, ensuing in a weaker immune

system to contend diseases and a world-wide addition in illness. Ultraviolet radiation

besides attacks Deoxyribonucleic acid in single cells, this procedure destroys the basic edifice blocks of

life.

The depletion of the ozone bed will merely as dramatically consequence workss as

much as it would the worlds. In workss and trees the addition in ultraviolet

radiation will interfere with photosynthetic activity, metamorphosis, blossoming, life

P >

rhythms and growing. The UV radiation could acquire so high that it may get down

firing trees and finally forrests? , in the procedure destructing our beginnings of

O that we need to last. The addition in radiation will get down to decrease harvests

and other nutrient beginnings. Get downing with the depletion of the ozone bed, the Domino

consequence of the extinction of biological systems on Earth would go on to workss and

so on to the marine ecosystem.

The effects of toxic condition of the ozone bed will flog out on the Marine

ecosystem. The marine ecosystem would badly endure from the thinning ozone and

the addition exposure to ultrviolet radiation. Get downing with phytoplankton, the

foundation of acquatic nutrient ironss, would free their mobility, reproduction ability,

a lessening in photosythetic activity and orientation in these little beings.

Scientific cogent evidence has demonstrated a direct decrease in phytoplankton production

due to ozone depletion-related additions in ultraviolet radiation. Damage to the early

developmental phases of runt, fish, pediculosis pubiss, amphibious vehicles and other animate beings has besides

been linked to ultraviolet radiation exposure. Greenpeace said, ? a sustained 16 %

ozone depletion could take to a loss of up to 7 million dozenss of fish per twelvemonth. ?

Furthermore, the population of all other animate beings would be in danger because of the

decreasing supply of smaller acquatic animals.

Animals, the most guiltless victims of the ozone depletion will hold to pay for

their lives foremost. With exposure to ultraviolet radiation animate beings will finally

develop tumours similar disease to worlds, such as: oculus tumours, to firing tegument, alterations in pigmentation, tegument malignant neoplastic diseases, and eventual suppression of the immune

system. Domestic animate beings may see loss of hair, malignant neoplastic diseases, light tegument and oculus

diseases. Skin and eyes tumours entirely in cattles, caprine animals, sheeps, Equus caballuss, Canis familiariss, and

cats. Through the direct consequence of exposure to ultraviolet radiation and the indirect

effects on the limited nutrient species further down the concatenation, most animate beings if non all

would be doomed. The keeping our ozone is so of import that every life signifier on

Earth depends upon the protection of the ozone bed, against the Sun? s harmful

emmision of radiation.

During the late 1970? s, scientist discovered a? hole? in the ozone over the

skies of Antartica. The? holes? in the ozone in Antartica has increased since and

merely appears in the seasonal springtime. Harmonizing to Greenpeace, ? Measurements

of ultraviolet beams in Antarctica in 1993 were 50 % higher than in 1991 and 1992?

( Greenpeace ) . Recent studies of the ozone bed in Antarctica, have been reported

in the one-year spring-time up to a 90 % lessening in ozone. In Antarctica a lessening in

stratospheric temperature is a happenstance, with the general addition in the lower

atmospheric temperatures. Some speculate this is because of the decreased ozone

above Antarctica and the C dioxide warming in the troposphere. Antarctica is

non the lone topographic point in the universe with holes in the ozone, Canada and the Artic besides

hold their ain ozone depletion concerns.

The Arctic and parts of Canada? s ozone degrees have progressively dropped.

Harmonizing to the Environmental Protection Agency, tierce of the Northern

Hemisphere is depleted ; ozone degrees over the Arctic are at an all-time depression of up to

45 % depletion from Greenland to Scandnavia to Western Siberia. Over the last 30

old ages, temperatures have been studied and determind that a 0.5 Celsius grade

addition had taken topographic point per decennary. The Arctic as a consequence. has experienced runing ice battalions, a weaker chilling tendency, and a diminution in existent ice country. Partss of Canada

has besides experienced a bead in ozone degrees by 15 % . Scientists feel through the old ages

1998-2000 to be the most vulnerable period when accumalated atmospheric Cl

and Br degrees from human made elements will be at it? s extremum.

One of the first major stairss in seeking to halt the ozone depletion took topographic point in

September of 1987, negotiants from around the universe met in Montreal to subscribe a

pact that limits the usage of Chlorofluorocarbons and halons. Soon after the heads of scientific discipline

gathered in Montreal, the Montreal Protocol was signed so that in developed

states the production and ingestion of Chlorofluorocarbons would be diminished by the twelvemonth

2000. The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 was amended to command ozone

consuming chemicals in the United States. This Clean Air Act created an excise revenue enhancement on

all CFC merchandises, that would increase twelvemonth to twelvemonth and bit by bit phase out the

production of Chlorofluorocarbons. The usage of Chlorofluorocarbons are presently banned in the United States. ? In

December of 1995 over 100 states agreed to phase developed states? production

of the pesticide methyl bromide, predicted to do about 15 % of ozone depletion by

the twelvemonth 2000. The production of Chlorofluorocarbons in developing states will hold ceased by

the twelvemonth 2010? ( Greenpeace ) . Just a couple old ages ago on December 16, 1997 the

Antarctica Protocol was eventually ratified after six old ages of lobbying. The Antartica

Protocol bans excavation for a lower limit of 50 old ages and designates the whole continent

and its Marine ecosystem as a? natural modesty devoted to peace and scientific discipline?

( Greenpeace ) .

There are many ways persons can decelerate the rate of ozone depletion,

through careful merchandise buying of contraptions that do utilize ozone depleting

substances. Immediately repair any leaks in your icebox and do certain all

Chlorofluorocarbons are recoverd and decently recycled before any icebox is scrapped. Avoid purchasing all merchandises that contain Ozone consuming substances such as: C

tetrachlorides in dry-cleaning agents, halons found in fire asphyxiators, methyl

chlorofoam in degreasers and propellents, and anything insulated in Styrofoam.

See options to air conditioning systems in your houses, such as: insulating

your places, install fan chilling systems, apply coats of brooding seal on your roof to

maintain heat out, and blowholes hot Attic infinites to acquire hot air out of your places. Be certain

maintainance your autos air conditioning systems so that no Freon leaks.

In decision, the protection and preservation of our ozone is critical for the

continuance of all biological systems and life signifiers on Earth. Even with all the Torahs

and CFC prohibitions, we must all lend a small something to nurse our fragile ozone

bed back to wellness. If we decide to allow things travel on the manner they are, extinction will

start with the Marine ecosystems, so the workss will get down to decease out, the animate beings

will hunger or decease of diseases and finally we will fall right in line as the concluding

Domino falls.

Firor, John. The Changing Atmosphere A Global Challenge.

New Haven: Yale University Press, 1990. 26-43.

Stoker, Stephen. ? Ozone. ? Vol. 14. 14ed. Chicago:

Fetzer, 1996. 894.

Environmental Protection Agency. ? Ozone Depletion. ? [ Internet Online ] .

December 24, 1997. hypertext transfer protocol: //www.epa.gov/ozone/science/effects.html.

Greenpeace. ? Ozone Depletion. ? [ Internet Online ] .

day of the month accessed: July 24, 1999. hypertext transfer protocol: //www.greenpeace.org.

Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 98. ? Ozone. ? [ Computer plan ] . 1998ed.

Microsoft Corporation.