Essay on OZONE DEPLETION BY HUMAN’S ACTIONS

between 65– 76 percent of the ozone harming substances from human movement, causing the Earth's temperature to ascend at its speediest rate in a large number of years. While common difference in the Earth's carbon cycle prompts a few variances in environmental carbon dioxide (CO2) levels, in general, we can see an

The ozone is a form of oxygen that combines three oxygen atoms in each molecule. Its important because its like a filter. CFCS, also known as, chlorofluorocarbons are used to break up some of the ozone molecules

The ozone should always stay in tact to protects the earth from UV radiation, which is harmful to humans (skin cancer) and also the earth (global warming). If allowed to build up indoors, VOCs often contribute to lightheadedness, headaches, allergies and more importantly has also scientifically proven harmful to asthma sufferers. As a matter of fact, according to Professor Roy Harrison, professor of environmental health at Birmingham University, there is a body of research on VOCs in the indoor environment which links them with those kinds of symptoms - headaches and not feeling so good (news.bbc.co.uk). After proven to have negative effects on the ozone layer as well as humans, the production of CFCs was shut down and in fact it’s banned in the US. Some scientists were not convinced by the act of banning CFCs in spite of all these evidences. “Given the large economic impact of a ban — it was estimated that industries relying on CFC production generated $8 billion in business and employed 200,000 people in 1974 — several scientists in the field advocated waiting a few years for science to make more progress on the issue before making any policy decisions.” (bio.sunyorange.edu)

According to scientific studies, climate change could be a responsible factor behind the formation of more ozone smog, and increased production of allergenic pollen (Drought Increases Air Pollution… (n.d.) The health of many people is susceptible to irritation of respiratory system from coming in contact with this polluted air from smog, pollen pollution, and wildfire smoke (NRDC: Climate Change Threatens ....... (n.d.). Anybody can be affected by breathing ozone, but certain age group and disease condition make them more vulnerable. Outdoor workers and even people exercising outside, vulnerable age groups such as children, teens, and older individuals, people with existing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, are more prone to outdoor ozone ”(Ozone Pollution - American Lung…n.d.). Health risk could range from mild "shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing; asthma attacks;"certain individuals might be prone to lung infections; their lungs could be inflamed (Ozone Pollution - American Lung…n.d.). People diagnosed with asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease might face more infections and in need of more care (Ozone Pollution - American Lung…n.d.). According to Natural Resources Defense Council, an approximated "881,500 kids and 2,294,800 adults" are asthma victim per year (Climate Change Threatens Health....n.d.).

-CFCs destruction to the ozone layer has allowed for UV radiation from the atmosphere to warm up the earth surface temperature higher than usual which is known as the greenhouse effect which has been known to assist in the growth of global warming. This exposure has also exposed humans to harmful UV radiation which can cause cancer.

The most widespread pollutant in the U.S. is ozone which is also one of the most dangerous. The ozone layer found high in the stratosphere shields us from a lot of the sun’s UV rays. When Ozone pollution (or smog) is at ground level where we can breathe it, it causes serious health problems; it’s dangerous to breathe, it aggressively attacks lung tissue by reacting chemically with it, it may also cause premature birth, premature death, infant mortality, and neurodevelopmental disorders like autism.

Ozone also known as O3, is a colorless toxic gas formed by three oxygen atoms. The ozone occurs in the Earth’s upper atmosphere, the stratosphere and in the lower atmosphere, the troposphere. The ozone can affect life in a good or bad way. Good ozone is in the upper atmosphere and occurs naturally, it has a protective layer that helps block harmful ultraviolet rays (EPA.Gov). Stratospheric ozone is formed naturally and it is about 6 through 30 miles above the Earth’s surface and it also reduces the amount of harmful UV rays. Bad ozone is created by chemical reactions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) (EPA.Gov). Tropospheric or ground-level ozone is what we breathe and are formed by chemical reactions of NOx and VOCs, these reactions have been viewed by the presence of heat and sunlight, resulting in higher ozone levels in the summer. The purpose of this paper is to identify the difference ozone levels in San

Below are four photos of the ozone layer at different times. The purple parts of the pictures represent the thinnest parts of the ozone layer. The blue parts are the next thinnest part of the ozone layer. The green parts of the pictures represent the normal thickness of the ozone layer. The red and yellow parts represent a buildup of ozone. The reason for the dramatic decrease in the ozone between September 17, 1979 and October 7, 1989 (top left and top right photos) is because of the introduction of CFCs or chlorofluorocarbons (Alford).

Chlorofluorocarbons, CFCs: These substances are also of concern in connection with the destruction of stratospheric ozone (Chapter 2). Like N2O, they have no tropospheric sinks, but are infrared absorbers. Up to 1984, the tropospheric concentrations of three of the major commercial CFCs...

Even though it has been scientifically proven that the halide acid (HCI) from the volcanic eruptions is mostly confined in the troposphere found just below the stratosphere and hence not effective in destroying the ozone as it is washed out by rain, the volcanic eruptions still play a significant part in reducing the ozone levels in an indirect manner. The particles emitted during an eruption interact with bromine and chlorine containing compounds from the human made CFCs hence the chemical reaction leads to the erosion of the ozone (Rangarajan S., 2013). This continued stagnation of the volcanic particles is made worse if the wind fails to blow to clear away the particles as well as failure of rain for a long time.

My first reason is because of a chemical called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). It has a tendency to drift up to the layer of ozone gas that surrounds the Earth and break up the ozone molecules. CFCs were found in aerosol cans that sprayed substances like deodorant and hairspray and in refrigerants, fire extinguishers and solvents for cleaning. Other ozone depleting chemicals were found

Why is the ozone layer of much concern to scientists and environmentalists? The ozone layer is quite beneficial to human life and existence. The destruction of this layer has been linked to the now common health conditions such as cancers, skin conditions and cataracts among others. It is apparent that, without the ozone layer, all humanity would be lost to disease.

Air is an indispensable part of human, animal and plant lives. Without it, no organisms would be able to survive on Earth (Reference, 2017). Due to excessive human activities, air pollution has become a detrimental worldwide issue in current days (Sciencing, 2017). However, scientists have found new chemicals that can assist in improving the air quality (Phys.org, 2017). Moreover, humans are able to adopt many methods to help decrease the severity of contamination released into the earth’s atmosphere. This investigation is linked to ‘application and limitation’ in ‘science as a Human Endeavour’.

"National Geographic: Eye in the Sky--ozone, Pollution." National Geographic: Eye in the Sky--ozone, Pollution. National Geographic, n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2017.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s): CFC’s are lowering the average concentration of ozone in the stratosphere. “Since 1978 the use of CFC’s in aerosol cans has been banned in the United States, Canada and most Scandinavian countries. Aerosols are still used around the world and accounts for 25% of global CFC’s use”. (Miller 448). Spray cans discarded or leaking refrigerator and air conditioning equipment and the burning plastic foam products release the CFC’s into the atmosphere. Depending on the type, CFC’s stay in the atmosphere from 22 to 111 years.” Chlorofluorocarbons move up to the stratosphere gradually over several decades. Under high energy ultra violet (UV) radiation break them down and release chlorine atoms, which speed up the breakdown of ozone (O3) into oxygen (O2). Chlorofluorocarbons, also known as Freons, are green house gas that contributes to global warming. Photochemical air pollution is commonly referred to as “smog”. Smog is the contraction of the words smoke and fog, smog has been caused by water condensing on smoke particles, usually from burning coal. With the introduction of petroleum to replace coal economies in countries, photochemical smog has become predominant in many cities, which are located in sunny warm and dry climates with many motor vehicles. The worst episodes of