Ozone (trioxygen O₃) is found in the earth's atmosphere and is composed of three oxygen atoms. The Ozone molecules come together to form a thin layer in the upper atmosphere (the stratosphere). The ozone layer absorbs incoming ultraviolet radiation (or UV) from the sun, reducing the amount that reaches the earth's surface by acting as a barrier. However, the ozone layer began to deplete in the 1960's, which led to an increase in the UV radiation reaching the earth's surface.
The ozone layer became depleted by the release of certain chemicals, that were produced through human activity and industry. The main culprit behind ozone depletion is a group of compounds called Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's). These chemicals are composed of carbon, chlorine and fluorine molecules and they were predominately used in the 1960's in the creation of fridge components, plastics, aerosols, air-conditioning units and Styrofoam.
These CFC's are so damaging because as they rise through the atmosphere and reach the ozone layer, they separate leaving a free chlorine molecule. The chlorine acts as a catalyst in the breakdown of ozone (O₃) to oxygen (O₂) and Chlorine Monoxide. The oxygen molecule does not act as a barrier from UV radiation, allowing it to reach the surface. Other Ozone depleting molecules include nitrogen oxide from cars and bromide in pesticides. As these molecules break down the ozone it leaves gaps and holes for harmful UV radiation to reach the earths surface.
But the question is, why should you care?
Ozone depletion has a hugely detrimental impact on both humans and the environment. During the 1960's when the ozone layer began to deplete more ultra-violet radiation was able to reach the Earth's surface. Studies show how the number of skin cancer cases skyrocketed, studies suggest that a loss of 10% of the ozone layer could increase skin cancer cases by a massive 26% (Ozone depletion, 2019). Genes are UV-sensitive which means other forms of cancer are also a risk. Studies show that increased UV also caused major damage to immune system integrity and was even linked with cataracts.
Not only is increased UV radiation bad for humans, it also has detrimental impacts on plant and marine ecosystems. UV rays contain high amounts of energy, allowing them to penetrate deep through water, destroying eggs, larvae, and phytoplankton.
CFCs are powerful green-house gases that have a direct effect on global temperatures, a greater production of CFCs leads to a rise in global warming. This rise in global temperatures has countless detrimental impacts, including melting of glaciers, sea level rise, destruction of habitat and changes in weather patterns.
The resolution and what can you do to help?
A study by Nobel peace prize winning chemists in 1974 discovered that if we continued to produce CFC at a constant rate then ozone depletion would be at -13% by 2050. Upon this discovery they immediately called for a ban on the production of CFC's in the USA, by 1978 this ban was introduced.
By 1987 26 Nations banned the use of CFC's and other ozone depleting substances under the guise of the Montreal Protocol. Today, thanks to tireless research and education all 197 members of the UN have signed the protocol and the use of ozone damaging substances has been reduced by 80%. Slowly, the ozone has even started to repair itself.
However, there are still things we need to do to protect our ozone layer. Here are a few handy tips on how you can prevent contributing to greater ozone depletion. A few simple ideas include:
Taking public transport or walking to reduce the number of private cars on the road, this will then in turn reduce the production of harmful exhaust gases.
Using eco-friendly and non-toxic household cleaning products, which can be found in any supermarket, try to replace the use of toxic solvents with natural vinegars.
Stopping the use of pesticides to manage weeds.
Only use Ozone friendly solvents.
Buy local products so that transport is minimal, and less nitrogen oxide has been produced to deliver your products.
Check your air conditioner unit. When these units malfunction the by-products include CFC's. To stop this, make sure you regularly check your unit and maintain its upkeep.
Maintain the 3 R's. Reduce, reuse, recycle. Reduce the use of harmful gases, reuse your products, and recycle waste where you can.
Join us and contribute to tree planting activities. The reduced air temperatures created as a result of tree planting improve air quality because emissions of many pollutants and/or ozone-forming chemicals are temperature dependent.
More can always be done, but this is a story where international co-operation combined with scientific study allowed a global problem to be overcome, hopefully climate change can be tackled in the same way.