World ozone Day

 

September 16 is annually celebrated as World Ozone Day across the world. The most significant event attached to the International Ozone day is the Montreal Protocol, held in 1987. It was a massive collaboration of more than 24 member nations of the UN. They together signed and pledged to protect the ozone layer by limiting the use of CFCs [Chlorofluorocarbons] and harmful elements that caused the depletion of the ozone layer in the atmosphere.

Ozone depletion is a major environmental problem because it increases the amount of ultraviolet (UV) radiation that reaches Earth’s surface, which increases the rate of skin cancer, eye cataracts, and genetic and immune system damage.

Ozone depletion causes

• Chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs are the main cause of ozone layer depletion. These are released by solvents, spray aerosols, refrigerators, air-conditioners, etc. The molecules of chlorofluorocarbons in the stratosphere are broken down by the ultraviolet radiations and release chlorine atoms. These atoms react with ozone and destroy it.
• Researchers say that the unregulated launching of rockets result in much more depletion of ozone layer than the CFCs does.
• The nitrogenous compounds such as NO₂, NO, N₂O are highly responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer.
• The ozone layer has been found to be depleted by certain natural processes such as Sun-spots and stratospheric winds. But it does not cause more than 1-2% of the ozone layer depletion. The volcanic eruptions are also responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer.

Effects

• The depletion of the ozone layer has harmful effects on the environment. Let us see the major effects of ozone layer depletion on man and environment. The humans will be directly exposed to the harmful ultraviolet radiations of the sun due to the depletion of the ozone layer. This might result in serious health issues among humans, such as skin diseases, cancer, sunburns, cataract, quick ageing and weak immune system.
• Direct exposure to ultraviolet radiations leads to skin and eye cancer in animals.
• Strong ultraviolet rays may lead to minimal growth, flowering and photosynthesis in plants. The forests also have to bear the harmful effects of the ultraviolet rays.
• Planktons are greatly affected by the exposure to harmful ultraviolet rays. These are higher in the aquatic food chain. If the planktons are destroyed, the organisms present in the food chain are also affected.

Prevention of Ozone layer

• Reduce the use of ozone depleting substances. E.g. avoid the use of CFCs in refrigerators and air conditioners, replacing the halon based fire extinguishers, etc.
• The vehicles emit a large amount of greenhouse gasesthat lead to global warming as well as ozone depletion. Therefore, the use of vehicles should be minimized as much as possible.
• Most of the cleaning products have chlorine and bromine releasing chemicals that find a way into the atmosphere and affect the ozone layer. These should be substituted with natural products to protect the environment.
• The government should take actions and prohibit the use of harmful nitrous oxide that is adversely affecting the ozone layer. People should be made aware of the harmful effects of nitrous oxide and the products emitting the gas so that its use is minimized at the individual level as well.