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An essay on causes and effects of ozone depletion
Essay introduction Cause and effect of ozone depletion
An essay on causes and effects of ozone depletion
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Ozone depletion directly affects society and the environment through increased exposure to UV radiation on humans, animals, plants and materials. Increased exposure to UV radiation can have serious adverse side effects for humans: Skin Cancer UV-B radiation can cause benign and malignant skin melanomas. A reduction in ozone levels increases the amount of UV-B radiation that can reach earths surface which would cause an increase in the number of occurrences of skin cancers, sunburns and premature aging of the skin. Cataracts A decrease on ozone and an increase in the amount of UV radiation reaching the earth has a significant effects on the eyes, such as an increased number of cases of "snowblindness" and cataracts. Snowblindness (photokeratitis) is a severe inflammation of the surface layers of the eyes. As this condition is caused by UV radiation a decreased in ozone will increase the number of incidences. Cataracts is described as a clouding of the lens and is the main cause of blindness around the world (estimated 17 million people). It is estimated that with a ten percent dr...
15.2) The accumulation of chlorofluorocarbons is responsible for depleting the atmospheric zone. The atmospheric zone has changed in concentration due to human activity. The CFCs release chlorine atoms which react with ozone reducing it to molecular O₂. Following chemical reactions release the chlorine which reacts with other ozone molecules in a catalytic chain reaction. The ozone layer is getting thinner and thinner as stable air at places such as Antarctica allows reaction to continue. The accumulation of CFCs has led to increased UV radiation in sunlight reaching the earth thereby decreasing ozone levels. The global temperature has increased.
Ultraviolet-B (UVB) radiation is a type of ultraviolet (means ‘beyond violet’) radiation that forms a part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Its primary natural source is the sun, but could also be emitted by artificial sources such as UVB lights, excimer lasers and fluorescents. Most UVB produced by sunlight is absorbed by oxygen in Earth’s atmosphere and forms the ozone layer of lower stratosphere. When the amount of ozone in the ozone layer is reduced, more UVB radiation reaches the surface of earth and can cause damaging effects to human health such as skin and eye, nevertheless UVB could also beneficial in some ways when it comes to produce vitamin D and used in medical devices.
UV radiation causes significant damage to human skin, in the form of sunburns, aging, skin cancer, and nonmelanoma tumors. Human skin damage is primarily a result of tanning. The
The drought increases the likelihood of wildfires, which release harmful smoke into the air. The California drought produces many harmful substances, which affect air quality and harm human health. Ozone is the principal component of smog and it is dangerous at ground level, which affects human health, crops, and buildings. Ozone smog is formed when vehicle and factory pollution react with sunlight and heat (Climate Change, 2007).
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. It will effect humans, plants, the Earth’s water and every other living creature. Studies have shown that for every five percent reduction in the concentration of ozone, the rate of skin cancer will rise by ten percent, due to increased exposure to the Sun’s ultraviolet rays (Environment Canada). Increased amounts of ultraviolet radiation increase the incidence of eye cataracts, which are patches of light blocking tissue which can lead to blindness (Ehrlich 120). It will also affect plants, which are sensitive to ultraviolet radiation. High levels will cause reduced stem and leaf growth in plants because photosynthetic activity is reduced or damaged. It also causes lower dry weight and affects plants’ ability to take in and use water (Ehrlich 120). This in turn reduces agricultural production and the food available to animals. Greater exposure to ultraviolet rays also affects the DNA of organisms. The radiation has the ability to reach the DNA and alter its structure. This can impair the organisms immune system, cause stunted growth, as well as increase the risk of cancer (Dolan 260). As well, micro-organisms in the soil which produce nutrients, can die from over-exposure to ultraviolet rays, resulting in soil infertility.
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 is especially important to beings on Earth because the ozone layer is beneficiary for sustaining all life on Earth. Most if not all people do not know that there is layer of thick molecules that form the ozone layer. Without the ozone layer oxygen would not be kept inside the Earth’s atmosphere which would not allow organisms to support life since all living things need oxygen. Additionally, when the atmosphere, also known as the ozone layer, gets depleted it will cause many abnormalities in communities. Because the ozone layer is an immense permeable membrane allowing only certain amounts of sunlight to pass through; it helps prevents a lot of the solar energy from burning Earth’s surface,
humans and the earth will be devastating. We must stop killing the earth's ozone by
During this period, all over the world is facing with one of the biggest problem, the Global Warming. Global Warming makes average level of Earth’s temperature increasing this is causing by two main phenomena; increasing of greenhouse gases levels all over the world and ozone depletion in the atmosphere. Greenhouse effect made up by several groups of gases that we know as greenhouse gases. In general, the levels of these gases were controlled by nature, so the level of the greenhouse gas was constant and in the appropriate amount but because of human activities such as fossil fuel combustion, intensive agriculture and over global population take role and disturb the nature activity. They were increasing the level of greenhouse gases around the world. Ozone depletion is when the layer of ozone becoming thinner and thinner by some type of gases such as chlorofluorocarbon (CFCs). So that mean greenhouse effect and ozone depletion related to each other by be the main cause that make Global warming happen.
...mental effects on marine life and the aquatic food chain. Further damage to the earth's aquatic ecosystems must be prevented in order to prevent not only the deterioration of oceanic life, but also the deterioration of the planet and its diverse life forms. By ceasing CFC usage and implementing substitutes, as well as through decreasing fossil fuel emissions and the release of other chemicals into the atmosphere, we can attempt to conserve what remains of the ozone layer and thus impede the increasing penetration of UV rays into the Earth's atmosphere and oceans. The safety of the planet and its organisms rests on the protection of the stratospheric ozone layer. If the depletion of stratospheric ozone continues, it will result in the deterioration of the phytoplankton which is an important base to the aquatic food chain on which most marine and animal life depends.
Starting from the industrial revolution, our skill to revolutionize the world around us has become intense. Before, the impact on our planet was almost unnoticeable. Recently, the effects of our increased activity have created a noticeable impact to the world. We have thinned the ozone layer and may now be starting to change the very climate system upon which we and all other life on Earth depend on. It’s like we are experimenting with the future, but unlike lab experiments, we can scrap it and start a new one is it fails, but altering the climate cannot be easily undone. We will be forced to live with the consequences for a very long time. Undoing what we have done to the ozone layer is not that simple.
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?
It can protect life on earth or harm it, but we have the power to influence ozone 's impact by the way we live.” ("Good Up High Bad Nearby - What Is Ozone?) This quote carries a very good point at the end of it. “The way we live.” Most Christians assume that if they are living for God and doing what the Bible says they are doing well in the eyes of God. That is true, Christians are called to a life of worship and service to God. The idea is that Christians do not recognize that there is a problem with the way they are living their lives that affects the planet. Personally, having heard sayings like “This planet is only temporary.” And “It will all fade away in the end.” These statements are true but it is taking advantage of the land God has provided for humanity. Being taught in the Bible that Christians should care for all of God’s creation, this expands to more than just humans, but to the animals and land as well. God in Genesis 2:15 took Adam, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. If God did not care about the status of the Earth why would personally take Adam to the field just to take care of it. “For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.” (Barker and Burdick Colossians 1:19-20) Paul writes that to reconcile all things to
Ozone is a gas in our atmosphere that is naturally present. Ozone has the chemical formula of O3 because an ozone molecule is triatomic, meaning that the molecule contains three oxygen atoms. The oxygen that organisms use to breathe is made up of two oxygen atoms, commonly called diatomic and represented by O2. As a single atom, oxygen is very unstable since it is a highly reactive, nonmetal element. According to Weingroff (n.d.), this is why oxygen is almost always found in its diatomic form, where it is a lot more stable. Since ozone can be found in different locations of the atmosphere, it depends on its location if ozone is considered to be harmful for
Ultraviolet light also contributes to cataract which is a condition where the eye becomes cloudy and the vision is blurred. Skin deterioration and immune inhibition are a result of UV radiation. (Bais et al., 2015)