Ozone Layer Poisoning Term paper

While the free essays can give you inspiration for writing, they cannot be used 'as is' because they will not meet your assignment's requirements. If you are in a time crunch, then you need a custom written term paper on your subject (ozone layer poisoning)
Here you can hire an independent writer/researcher to custom write you an authentic essay to your specifications that will pass any plagiarism test (e.g. Turnitin). Waste no more time!

The poisoning of the Earth’s ozone layer is increasingly attracting worldwide

concern for the global environment and the health effects of life on the Planet

Earth. There is not just one particular cause for the ozone’s 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 damage

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 blue

gaseous form of oxygen, in chemical form it is also known as O3. Ozone can be

beneficial or harmful depending on its location in the Earth’s 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 smog and other environmental health problems. Such tropospheric

ozone can damage plastic, rubber, plant and animal tissue. Ozone located

approximately 10-25 miles above the Earth’s surface, in a part of the

Earth’s atmosphere called the stratosphere is very beneficial. The ozone is a

major factor that makes life possible on Earth. About 90% of the planet’s

ozone is in the ozone layer. Ozone in this layer shields and filters out the

Earth from 95-99 percent the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. A low level of ozone

does not protect or prevent the sun’s 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

Earth’s ozone layer is because of the release of chlorofluorocarbons into the

atmosphere. Chlorofluorocarbons also known as CFCs, are industrially produced

chemical compounds that contain the elements chlorine, fluorine, carbon, and

sometimes hydrogen that will break 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 sun’s ultraviolet radiation cause them to break

apart. Therefore, the chlorine atoms inside the CFCs are released and will react

with ozone, starting a chemical destruction cycle of ozone. To show the extent

of destruction chlorine can produce, one chlorine atom can break apart more than

100,000 molecules of ozone. Chlorofluorocarbons are not naturally produced

chemical, but shockingly are all man-made products. CFCs products and other

ozone depleting substance are everywhere and come in all forms such as: aerosol

spray cans, industrial cleaning agents, insulators, Styrofoam’s, coolants,

auto air conditioners, home air conditioners and refrigerators (see next the pie

chart on next page for more information). Majority of CFCs contributing to

depletion is the auto air conditioners in our cars. The CFCs inside auto and

home air conditioning systems, as well as in refrigerators can leak out, and

eventually will rise into the atmosphere destroying the ozone layer. According

to Greenpeace, “The manufactures of CFCs and other ozone depleting products

include: Dupont, Elf-Atochem, ICI, LaRouche, Rhone Poulenc, Nippon Halon, and

Allied Signal” (Greenpeace). The total value of all the ozone depleting

products since 1986 exceeded $30.6 billion, with the United States producing a

large majority of the products. There are other elements and man-made chemicals

that contribute to the ozone depletion. Any form of elemental bromine that

reacts with ozone is very violotile. For examaple, methyl bromide is a compound

that is used as a pesticide and fumigant; the break down of bromine atoms in

pesticides due to the sun’s rays, can be more than 40 times as destructive to

ozone molecules than chlorine atoms. Halons which are used in fire extinguishers

contain bromine and are also depleters of the ozone. Another product that is

destructive is methyl chlorofoam, in which are solvents in industrial processes.

Hydrochlorofluorocarbons are known as HCFCs, they are categorized as class II

ozone depleting substances because these products do not deplete the ozone as

much as CFCs. HFCs are currently being used as replacements for CFCs, even

though they deplete the ozone to some extent. Man-made chemicals are not the

only way ozone depletion can occur; natural depletion is also a reason the ozone

layer is thinning. Natural depletion is another reason why ozone depletion takes

place. Ultraviolet light in the atmosphere breaks down the ozone molecules into

molecular oxygen and atomic oxygen, in a process called photolysis. Natural

hydrogen oxides account for nearly 11% of all natural depletions. Nitrogen

oxides are responsible for 50-70% of all natural depletions. Volcanoes and

oceans naturally emit large amounts of chlorine, but they easily dissolve in

water and are washed out by rain, therefore, the chlorine does not reach the

stratosphere to deplete the ozone. Natural depletors are factors we really do

not have much control over; however, we do have control over the man-made

chemicals. The thinning of the ozone layer that protects us from ultraviolet

radiation is increasing and ramifications will have numerous worldwide effects

on human life. Statistics and laboratory experimental studies have proven the

increase exposure to ultraviolet rays can cause actinic keratoses, melanoma and

nonmelanoma cancers. Excessive or even mild exposure to ultraviolet radiation

can also cause eye diseases such as: cataracts (loss of focus in the lens which

clouds vision), pterygium (tissue growth on the white of the eye that can block

vision), skin cancers around the eyes, blindness, and degeneration of the

macula. According to the Envionment Protection Agency, “It is estimated that a

sustained 10 percent loss of ozone could lead to a 26 percent increase in the

number of cases of nonmelanoma skin cancer per year worlwide” and “At the

same time, 1.6 million additional cataract cases per year could occur” (Envionment

Protection Agency). The increase of ultraviolet radiation because of the

reduction of ozone will also immune systlem suppression. Scientist have found

that overexposure to the sun can alter the function and distribution of white

blood cells (disease- fighting cells) in humans, resulting in a weaker immune

system to fight diseases and a worldwide increase in sickness. Ultraviolet

radiation also attacks DNA in individual cells, this process destroys the basic

building blocks of life. The depletion of the ozone layer will just as

dramatically effect plants as much as...

Firor, John. The Changing Atmosphere A Global Challenge. New Haven: Yale
University Press, 1990. 26-43. Stoker, Stephen. “Ozone.” Vol. 14. 14ed.
Chicago: Fetzer, 1996. 894. Environmental Protection Agency. “Ozone
Depletion.” [Internet Online]. December 24, 1997. http://www.epa.gov/ozone/science/effects.html
. Greenpeace. “Ozone Depletion.” [Internet Online]. date accessed: July 24,
1999. http://www.greenpeace.org . Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 98.
“Ozone.” [Computer program]. 1998ed. Microsoft Corporation. You should cite this paper as follows:

MLA Style
. EssayMania.com. Retrieved on 24 May, 2012 from
    <http://essaymania.com/165571/ozone-layer-poisoning>

More College Papers

Oil Spills essay
Oil is a product used by everyone, but sometimes oil is a problem. An oil spill is a leakage from an oceangoing tanker, pipelines, or other oil sources. Oil spills occur very frequently, and cause enormous ecological harm. About eight million barrels of oil are spilled each year. Tankers usually

Ocean Fisheries essay
Most people are familiar with the problems of the blue whale, efforts to save endangered sea turtles, and the many tragic tales of dolphins dying in tuna nets. Many people do not realize the extreme danger that tuna and many other fish face. There is an alarming decline in fish populations, and t

Nuclear Waste essay
The United States alone produces an average volume of commercial low-level radioactive waste of about 500,000 cubic feet each year. That is a lot of waste! This comes from a variety of places. Mainly though, it is produced by nuclear power plants. This waste brings up a problem though. It is diff