The Poisoning of Our Ozone Layer :: essays research papers

The Poisoning of Our Oz one Layer The poisoning of the Earths ozone layer is increasingly attracting worldwide concern for the international environment and the health effects of life on the Planet Earth. There is not just one particular cause for the ozones 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 deterioration 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 soft gaseous form of oxygen, in chemical form it is also known as O3. Ozone can be beneficial or harmful depending on its view in the Earths 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 smogginess and other environmental health problems. Such tropospheric ozone can damage plastic, rubber, plant and animal tissue. Ozone located approximately 10-25 miles above the Earths surface, in a part of the Earths atmosphere called the stratosphere is very beneficial. The ozone is a major factor that makes life possible on Earth. About 90% of the planets ozone is in the ozone layer. Ozone in this layer shields and filters out the Earth from 95-99 percent the temperatenesss ultraviolet radiation. A low level of ozone does not protect or prevent the suns 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 Earths ozone layer is because of the release of chlorofluorocarbons into the atmosphere. Ch lorofluorocarbons also known as CFCs, are industrially produced chemical compounds that contain the elements chlorine, fluorine, carbon, and sometimes hydrogen that will condition 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 suns ultraviolet radiation cause them to break apart.