Cfcs come from the burning of plastic foam items leaking refrigerator equipment spray cans. There are important effects of changes in the intensity of solar uv radiation resulting from stratospheric ozone depletion, particularly uvb. The emission of ozonedepleting gases are threatening the earths ozone layer. Ozone layer depletion ozone layer depletion is the gradual thinning of the earths ozone layer in the upper atmosphere caused due tho release of chemical compounds containing gaseous bromine or chlorine from industries or other human activities. Types of air pollutionindoor and outdoor while this chapter deals with the issues of pollution to the atmosphere and. Is depletion of the ozone layer the principal cause of. Ace information programme aric ozone depletion fact sheet series. The roll of ozone is very crucial and significant because it acts as a protective shield in the biosphere ecosystem against their exposure to deadly and dangerous ultraviolet radiation. The ozone hole grows throughout the early spring until temperatures warm and the polar vortex weakens.
Global ozone depletion has been going on for years. However, because ozone absorbs solar radiation and is a greenhouse gas, ozone changes and climate change are linked in important ways. Air pollution not only harms buildings and plant life, but it negatively impacts human health as well. Moreover, the reasons of the problems in subject have started to become complex and effective, and their solutions have started to become. Too much here cars, trucks, power plants and factories all emit air pollution that forms ground level ozone, a. This digest is a faithful summary of two leading scientific consensus reports produced in 2003 and 2004 by the world health organization who. Ozone depletion, ozone hole, ultraviolet radiation. Smog a type of air pollution that is a mixture of oxidants. Discovering ozone depletion and banning cfc aerosol. The causes of ozone depletion scientific evidence indicates that stratospheric ozone is being destroyed by a group of manufactured chemicals, containing chlorine and or bromine. At ground level, ozone is a pollutant that can harm human health. The thinning is most pronounced in the polar regions, especially over antarctica. Massive amounts of uvb radiation that penetrate our atmosphere do not only affect humans, but also animals and plants. Theses gaseous pollutants react with the ozone to produce oxygen by which the net result is the depletion of ozone.
Ozone depletion smog acid rain what are the effects of air pollution. The earth is protected from excessive ultraviolet rays by an atmospheric ozone layer. Chapter 15 air pollution and stratospheric ozone depletion. The analysis indicates that ozone pollution affects the health of. Air pollution can damage crops and trees in a variety of. Questions and answers about the effects of the depletion of. The causes of ozone depletion scientific evidence indicates that stratospheric ozone is being destroyed by a group of manufactured chemicals, containing chlorine andor bromine. In the stratosphere, however, ozone forms a layer that protects life on earth from the suns harmful ultraviolet uv rays. In addition to the emergence of stratospheric ozone depletion as an. Questions and answers about the environmental effects of.
How and why has the situation regarding the ozone layer changed over the. Chapte r ozone depletion potentials, global warming. The questions address the nature of atmospheric ozone, the chemicals that cause ozone depletion, how global and polar ozone depletion occur, and what could lie ahead for the ozone layer. The problem of ozone depletion and its adverse consequences have threatened the existence of life on the planet. Pdf ozone o 3 is a stratospheric layer that plays important role in providing support to humans for. This was the first federal attempt to control air pollution. Questions and answers about the environmental effects of the. Pdf there are many situations where human activities have. Air pollution is a global health issue of growing concern. Another misconception is that ozone layer depletion causes global warming by letting in extra solar radiation. Uv can also damage sensitive crops, such as soybeans, and reduce crop yields. Environmental studies ozone depletion ozone is a form of oxygen in which three atoms of oxygen combine to form a single molecule of ozone. Near the ground, ozone forming as a result of chemical reactions involving traffic pollution and. Stratospheric ozone depletion after reading this module, you should be able to explain the benefits of stratospheric ozone and.
Ozone depletion, gradual thinning of earths ozone layer in the upper atmosphere caused by the release of chemical compounds containing gaseous chlorine or bromine from industry and other human activities. Ozone is a gas that occurs both at groundlevel and in the earths upper atmosphere, known as the stratosphere. Ozone depletion also explains much of the observed reduction in stratospheric and upper tropospheric temperatures. Ozone depletion and climate change are linked in a number of ways, but ozone depletion is not a major cause of climate change. These radiations can cause severe diseases in humans such as skin cancer, eye damage and genetic mutations etc 9. Thinning of the protective ozone layer can cause increased amounts of uv radiation to reach the earth, which can lead to more cases of skin cancer, cataracts, and impaired immune systems. This report summarizes the results of a multidisciplinary analysis aiming to assess the effects of ozone on health. Though generally thought of as an urban dilemma, it poses a health threat in rural areas as well. The depletion of ozone in the stratosphere by the number of gaseous pollutants like nitric oxide no, nitrous oxide n 2 o, chlorine cl, chlorofluorocarbons cfcs etc. Ods are very stable, nontoxic and environmentally safe in the lower atmosphere, which is why they became. Ozone depletion and climate change, or ozone hole and global warming in more popular terms, are environmental challenges whose connections have been explored and which have been compared and contrasted, for example in terms of global regulation, in various studies and books.
To the point where a seasonal hole in the ozone layer began to appear above the antarctic. Ozone layer protection european commission european union. This timeline highlights the average area of the ozone hole between september 7th and october th as observed by nasa spacedbased instruments see colored bars and scale. The air quality planning units primary goal is to protect your right to breathe clean air. Ozone control strategies groundlevel ozone new england. Oct 27, 2017 the effects of ozone depletion on plants and animals. These chemicals are called ozone depleting substances ods. The ozone depletion has led to a worldwide concern as the thinning protective coat over earth is letting harmful ultraviolet light pass. Is depletion of the ozone layer the principal cause of climate change. This ozone layer sustains life on the earth by absorbing a great deal of uv ultra violet light radiating out of sun.
In the troposphere, ozone is also an efficient greenhouse gas. Gwps including indirect effects of ozone depletion have been estimated fo r a variety of halocarbons cfcs, halons, hcfcs, etc. Project report on ozone depletion environmental pollution. Ozone can inflame and damage the lining of the lung some scientists have compared ozonecaused lung damage to a sunburn. Clean air is considered to be a basic requirement of human health and wellbeing who, 2000. Symptoms of ozone exposure when people breathe ozone air pollution, the lining of their lungs can become irritated and inflamed. Global warming and ozone layer depletion are two different problems see the sidebar misconceptions about global atmospheric change on page 95. Although natural phenomena can cause temporary ozone loss, chlorine and bromine released from manmade compounds such as cfcs are now accepted as the main cause of this. Clean air, healthy children teachers guide and activities for. Ground ozone concentration is lower in polar and equatorial regions. The subtropical ground ozone concentration in northern hemisphere is twice the corresponding region in southern hemisphere 5. Causes of air pollution carbon dioxide deforestation and fossil fuel burning sulfur dioxide burning of sulfur containing compounds of fossil fuels.
It contributes to acid rain formation, ozone depletion, and climate change. Health aspects of air pollution with particulate matter, ozone and nitrogen dioxide and answer to followup questions from cafe 2004. The most accurate estimate that can be made is that at present launch rates and pro pellant use, global ozone depletion from rocket engine particle emissions does not exceed 0. Nearly 500 organizations, teams, and individuals from 40 countries have received stratospheric ozone protection awards for their exceptional leadership, personal dedication, and technical achievements. Environmental studies ozone depletion tutorialspoint. The policies and response strategies that are being formulated or implemented in the asian and pacific region to address these concerns are also discussed. Therefore many governments are taking measures to prevent ozone depletion. Smog a type of air pollution that is a mixture of oxidants and particulate matter. Cfcs are everywhere in the atmosphere and ozone depletion due to cfcs occurs worldwide, but in the antarctica, because of pscs, ozone depletion is severe enough to create an ozone hole. The net gwps of halocarbons depend strongly upon the effectiveness of each compound for ozone destruction. The clean air act of 1990 sets limits on the discharge of air pollutants from industrial facilities and motor vehicles, and addresses acid rain and ozone depletion american meteorological society, 1999.
Since india already receives high doses of ultraviolet uvb radiation, and is at the threshold go to speak, effects of ozone layer depletion. Let us have a detailed look at the various causes and effects of ozone layer depletion. Experts blame ozonelayer depletion on manmade chem. Researchers indicate that many of the effects of ozone depletion on human health tend to apply for animals, too. The ozone layer protects us from excessive levels of harmful ultraviolet uv radiation. Within the stratosphere, the ozone layer is the portion that contains the highest. Ozone layer depletion cause, effects, and solutions. Ozone air pollution and health studies have indicated that exposure to groundlevel ozone air pollution, even at very low levels, can cause a number of respiratory health effects particularly over time. Ozone damages the cells that line the air spaces in the lung. It absorbs solar ultraviolet radiation, which heats the stratosphere. The good ozone layer is located between 20 km and 40 km above the earths surface and is very important to all life on earth, as it stops harmful radiation from. Another most feared aspect of pollution is depletion of ozone layer of the stratosphere. Ozone is a highly oxidative compound formed in the lower.
One of the greatest and most dangerous effects of pollution on the ozone layer is that it creates holes in the atmosphere, which allow powerful ultraviolet rays from the sun to reach the earths surface. No, ozone depletion itself is not the principal cause of climate change. Light pollution may also contribute to global decline of amphibians, because many amphibians are nocturnally active or have biological rhythms regulated by light. Atmospheric ozone has two effects on the temperature balance of the earth. The clean air act highlights of the 1990 amendments. Due to this, it is also taking a toll on our health and the environment. Effects of ozone depletion ozone depletion is affecting the human health and environment negatively, as it allows the penetration of uv radiations to reach the earth. Uv b radiation due to ozone depletion, global warming and climatic change, habitat loss and destruction, and acidification caused by acid rain. Chlorofluorocarbons cfcs reduces the amount of ozone. Causes of ozone layer depletion and its effects on human.
Since then, clean air legislation has been revised and strengthened. Within a few days, the damaged cells are replaced and the old cells are shed much in the way skin peels after a sunburn. Ozone depletion consists of two related events observed since the late 1970s. Ozone depletion occurs when the natural balance between the production and destruction of stratospheric ozone is tipped in favour of destruction. Ozone depletion over india with so much worry about the rapid ozone depletion taking place in various parts of the earth, indian scientists are closely monitoring the ozone layer over india for possible depletion trends. The ozone layer is a layer in earths atmosphere which. However, air pollution continues to pose a significant threat to health and environment worldwide. The amendments also established a national operating permits program to make the law more workable, and strengthened enforcement to help ensure better compliance with the act. Global warming is caused by the greenhouse effect, which is essential to life as we know it on planet earth.