The Implications of Ozone Depletion on Human Health
Introduction Hairspray. Refrigerators. Air conditioners. These everyday luxuries, while making human life more comfortable, are taxing our health seriously. Clorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, are anthropogenic chemicals used in refrigerants and as propellants in aerosols. CFCs, also known as freons, are also the primary culprit behind the depletion of stratospheric ozone, which allows harmful ultraviolet rays to reach the Earth and its inhabitants.
When CFC molecules reach the stratosphere, the sun's radiation breaks it apart, freeing the chorine atom to destroy ozone molecules. The effect is a growing ozone hole which forms over Antarctica in October and usually lasts through mid
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a reddening, and sometimes blistering, of human skin. The sensitivity to radiation depends on each individual's pigmentation, with fairer skinned people being more susceptible to sunburn. As a result of frequent UV light exposure and sunburn, the skin experiences photoaging, which is characterized by wrinkles, altered pigmentation, and a loss of elasticity in the skin. This is simply an increase in the aging of skin cells brought on by UV exposure, and this photoaging of human skin will increase as ozone levels decrease.
SKIN CANCER
One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. For the year 1999, one million cases of skin cancer have been predicted. The two most common forms of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Carcinomas are cancers which originate in the cells that cover an organ. These cancers are also referred to as nonmelanoma cancers. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer. It appears as small, fleshy bumps, eighty percent of which are found on the head and neck. Basal cell carcinoma rarely spreads, but if left untreated, can possibly penetrate to and damage the bone. Squamous cell carcinoma appears as red scaly patches or nodules. This form of nonmelanoma cancer, while less common, can metastasize, or spread to other organs. Both squamous and basal cell carcinoma are rarely found on dark-skinned people, and are very common among Caucasians,
Many people think that is it possible to achieve a “healthy tan,” but this thought has been proven wrong. Overexpose to UV-A and UV-B rays from the sun lead to premature aging of the skin, as well as the possible formation of skin cancer, know as melanoma. An appearance of a tan is actually a stage of burning and damage to the skin. Although a tan may be desirable to many, the fact remains that more people need to be educated on the dangers of the sun’s harmful rays, and the possible health complications of overexposure.
Although there are several types of skin cancer, the most aggressive form is melanoma. This cancer of the skin involves mass replication of the pigment producing melanocyte cells, which are located in the epidermis, below the basal layer. There are several factors involved with the onset of melanoma including, exposure to ultraviolet rays, genetic predisposition, numerous nevi (moles), immunosuppression, and environmental exposure to carcinogens.
United States. Skin cancer has been the most popular form of cancer that is growing especially since the invention of tanning beds. Sun exposure and radiation exposure increase the risk of skin cancer. The definition of cancer is abnormal cell growth or behavior. Studies have shown that sun and radiation exposure damage the cells in your body. Richard Wagman is the author of this article; he is a doctor who specializes in internal medicine. The publication is from The New Complete Medical and Health Encyclopedia, which is a book written by M.D. Richard
How do CFCs or chlorofluorocarbons affect Canada’s Ozone layer. To answer this question we first have to understand chlorofluorocarbons and the earth's ozone layer. Chlorofluorocarbons are chemical compounds made up of three chlorine atoms. One fluorine atom and 1 carbon atom. There were many uses for CFCs ranging from, being used as coolants in refrigerants to propellants for aerosols to being used as solvents for dry cleaning. As CFCs are non- flammable and not very toxic we thought they were a revolutionary compound, but unfortunately CFCs were one of the leading causes for the depletion of our ozone layer. ozone is a type of oxygen, an ozone molecule consists of three oxygen atoms whereas a regular oxygen molecule only consists of two.
Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common form of skin cancer. Arising from keratinocytes of the stratum spinosum lesions. These lesions often appear, scaly red patches, reddened, or elevated eventually forming a conclave ulcer with elevated edges. If detected early and surgical removal the chances of recovery are high.If neglected and undetected cancer can metastasize spread to the lymph nodes and become deadly (Saladin,
The second most common skin cancer happens to be squamous cell carcinoma. This skin cancer is a rough surfaced skin colored lesion and it can most likely cause death in about 10 percent of patients that are affected with this disease. Last but not least, the most serious skin cancer is melanoma, which often looks like a dark, changing, bleeding skin spot. Melanoma is fatal in as many as 35 percent of patients who are diagnosed with this form of skin cancer. The skin cancer that interested me the most was basal cell carcinoma because I wanted to figure out why it was the most common skin cancer.
Skin disease is an anomalous development of skin cells, there are three sorts of skin growths: Basal cell is a tumor that develops on various parts of your body that get heaps of sun. It can spread to different parts of your body too. Squamous cell malignancy is the second most basic skin disease. It is normally found in zones of the body harmed by UV beams sun and tanning beds. Melanoma is the most genuine skin malignancy it can get into different organs like your eyes, interior organs like your digestion systems. The sun and tanning beds and any UV radiation exposure increase the risk of skin cancer. Half of all newly diagnosed cancers are skin cancer. (Scarlett W. 371). Solar radiation is an
This specific type of skin cancer usually develops on skin that gets prolonged sun exposure, such as on the head, neck, and back of the hands. BCC is also especially common on the face, specifically the nose (Skin Cancer Foundation). iii. Now, anyone with a history of sun exposure can develop this condition. However, people who use tanning beds, have faire skin, or green or blue eyes have a much higher risk of getting BCC (Mayo Clinic
Nevertheless, if basal cell carcinoma is allowed to progress, the clinical course of the condition can result in significant cosmetic disfigurement. Basal cell carcinoma only metastisizes in less than 0.1% of cases Reference, although the risk is low, the most common metastatic sites are the lymph nodes, lungs and bones. Basal cell tumours tend to develop slowly and may be locally destructive to surrounding tissue. Those with basal cell carcinoma have a 35% probability of developing an additional tumour within 3 years, therefore regular appointments with dermatologists are recommended. Reference. Despite an almost 100% survival rate, early detection and treatment may prevent disfigurement.
C. Melanoma Skin Cancer is the most dangerous form of skin cancer, it kills one person per hour, these cancerous growths are most often caused by ultraviolet radiation from sunshine or tanning beds. These tumors originate in the pigment-producing melanocytes in the basal layer of the epidermis. Melanoma is caused mainly by intense, occasional UV exposure (frequently leading to sunburn), especially in those who are genetically predisposed to the disease. Often the first sign of melanoma is a change in the size, shape, color or feel of a mole.
Ultraviolet light (UV) Introduction The ultraviolet light is found around our lives, even if we do not concern about it too much. It is a kind of electromagnetic radiation that comes from the sun and people can not notice it with their eyes. The UV light only embodies 10% in the sun, and merely a little part reach on the ground. The UV light has the shorter wavelengths than the others. In addition, it also benefits our lives. We use the UV light on the periodontics, cleaning, the discovering of the real money, or dry out our nail. On the other hands, the UV light also has some negative impacts in our human bodies, the UV light mainly absorbed in the superficial, which means the dead layer of the epidermis.It can cause corneal burns, sunburn, seriously cause the skin cancer. Although it
When UV-B rays (ultraviolet light with shorter wavelengths than UV-A rays) penetrate the membrane of a cell, it can damage DNA, resulting in cell mutations, or cells dying off. In humans, this can lead to skin cancer and a changed immune system functioning, which can lead to other problems such as skin lesions. Exposure to UV-B rays can also result in the development of cataracts in the eyes and vision impairment. Similarly in plants, UV-B rays affect DNA and cell processes. These effects become apparent during photosynthesis, reducing plant sizes and harming reproductive and immune systems.
Every hour at least one American will die of skin cancer caused by exposure to the sun. These statistics are alarming and most people are unaware that the sunshine that we all love so much is in fact a threat to our health and good looks. It is up to us to educate ourselves and our children on the harmful effects of sun exposure on the human body like premature aging, physical damage to the body, and cancerous diseases.
These chemicals, once released, take quite a long time to degrade. It takes them years to move through the atmosphere to the location of the ozone layer. These chemicals are broken down by the ultra violet rays from the sun ultimately breaking down into chlorine and bromide molecules which are responsible for the destruction of the ozone layer. Ozone layer is found in two layers i.e. the “good” and “bad” ozone layer (Filder 131). The bromide and chloride atoms destroy the “good” ozone. One molecule of chlorine is estimated to be capable of
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