The Poisoning Of Our Ozone Essay Research

The Poisoning Of Our Ozone Essay, Research Paper

The Poisoning of Our Ozone Layer

The poisoning of the Earth?s ozone layer is increasingly attracting worldwide

concern for the global environment and the health effects of life on the Planet Earth.

There is not just one particular cause for the ozone?s depletion; the accumulation of

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

problem. There is not just one effect from the poisoning of the ozone, but instead

multiple ramifications from diseases to death. The damage to the ozone is increasing

with every second; moreover, there are many ways we can help reduce the problem

and preserve the ozone layer.

Ozone is a pale blue gaseous form of oxygen, in chemical form it is also

known as O3. Ozone can be beneficial 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 miles) it is a harmful pollutant and a

major component in smog and other environmental health problems. Such

tropospheric ozone can damage plastic, rubber, plant and animal tissue. Ozone

located approximately 10-25 miles above the Earth?s surface, in a part of the

Earth?s atmosphere called the stratosphere is very beneficial. The ozone is a major

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

ozone layer. Ozone in this layer shields and filters out the Earth from 95-99 percent

the sun?s ultraviolet radiation. A low level of ozone does not protect or prevent the

sun?s

ultraviolet rays from reaching the surface of the Earth, therefore, overexposing life

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

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

main reason our ozone is continuously being poisoned.

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

release of chlorofluorocarbons into the atmosphere. Chlorofluorocarbons also known

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

chlorine, fluorine, carbon, and sometimes hydrogen that will break down the

protective ozone in the atmosphere. Since CFCs are heavier than air, the process of

CFCs reaching the ozone will generally take from two to five years to get into the

stratosphere. When CFCs reach the stratosphere, the sun?s ultraviolet radiation

cause them to break apart. Therefore, the chlorine atoms inside the CFCs are

released and will react with ozone, starting a chemical destruction cycle of ozone. To

show the extent of destruction chlorine can produce, one chlorine atom can break

apart more than 100,000 molecules of ozone. Chlorofluorocarbons are not

naturally produced chemical, but shockingly are all man-made products. CFCs

products and other ozone depleting substance are everywhere and come in all forms

such as: aerosol spray cans, industrial cleaning agents, insulators, Styrofoam?s,

coolants, auto air conditioners, home air conditioners and refrigerators (see next the

pie chart on next page for more information). Majority of CFCs contributing to

depletion is the auto air conditioners in our cars. The CFCs inside auto and home air

conditioning systems, as well as in refrigerators can leak out, and eventually will rise

into the atmosphere destroying the ozone layer.

According to Greenpeace, ?The manufactures of CFCs and other ozone depleting

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

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

products since 1986 exceeded $30.6 billion, with the United States producing a large

majority of the products.

There are other elements and man-made chemicals that contribute to the

ozone depletion. Any form of elemental bromine that reacts with ozone is very

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

fumigant; the break down of bromine atoms in pesticides due to the sun?s rays, can

be more than 40 times as destructive to ozone molecules than chlorine atoms. Halons

which are used in fire extinguishers contain bromine and are also depleters of the

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

solvents in industrial processes. Hydrochlorofluorocarbons are known as HCFCs,

they are categorized as class II ozone depleting substances because these products do

not deplete the ozone as much as CFCs. HFCs are currently being used as

replacements for CFCs, even though they deplete the ozone to some extent.

Man-made chemicals are not the only way ozone depletion can occur; natural

depletion is also a reason the ozone layer is thinning.

Natural depletion is another reason why ozone depletion takes place.

Ultraviolet light in the atmosphere breaks down the ozone molecules into molecular

oxygen and atomic oxygen, in a process called photolysis. Natural hydrogen oxides

account for nearly 11% of all natural depletions. Nitrogen oxides are responsible for

50-70% of all natural depletions. Volcanoes and oceans naturally emit large amounts

of chlorine, but they easily dissolve in water and are washed out by rain, therefore,

the chlorine does not reach the stratosphere to deplete the ozone. Natural depletors

are factors we really do not have much control over; however, we do have control

over the man-made chemicals.

The thinning of the ozone layer that protects us from ultraviolet radiation is

increasing and ramifications will have numerous worldwide effects on human life.

Statistics and laboratory experimental studies have proven the increase exposure to

ultraviolet rays can cause actinic keratoses, melanoma and nonmelanoma cancers.

Excessive or even mild exposure to ultraviolet radiation can also cause eye diseases

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

growth on the white of the eye that can block vision), skin cancers around the eyes,

blindness, and degeneration of the macula. According to the Envionment Protection

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

percent increase in the number of cases of nonmelanoma skin cancer per year

worlwide? and ?At the same time, 1.6 million additional cataract cases per year

could occur? (Envionment Protection Agency). The increase of ultraviolet radiation

because of the reduction of ozone will also immune systlem suppression. Scientist

have found that overexposure to the sun can alter the function and distribution of

white blood cells (disease- fighting cells) in humans, resulting in a weaker immune

system to fight diseases and a worldwide increase in sickness. Ultraviolet radiation

also attacks DNA in individual cells, this process destroys the basic building blocks of

life.

The depletion of the ozone layer will just as dramatically effect plants as

much as it would the humans. In plants and trees the increase in ultraviolet

radiation will interfere with photosynthetic activity, metabolism, flowering, life