Question

A small essay on ozone depletion and control methods

Answer 1

Ozone Layer Depletion: Effects and Measures to Protect Ozone Layer Depletion!

Another most feared aspect of pollution is depletion of ozone layer of the stratosphere. This ozone layer sustains life on the earth by absorbing a great deal of UV (Ultra Violet) light radiating out of sun. If all of this light falls over the earth surface without being absorbed by the ozone layer, it will cause sunburn and will lead to death. Early 1960s scientists established that an ozone hole has occurred in the stratospheric ozone layer over Antarctica.

Ozone is a pale blue gas mainly present in the stratosphere in the form of a layer known as ozonosphere. The ozonosphere acts as an absorbent of all harmful radiations coming from the sun and space and hence behaves as a protective umbrella for the living organisms on earth. In the absence of ozone layer, all the dangerous UV rays and cosmic rays will enter into atmosphere and cause damage to living organisms.


Ozone in ozone layer is formed by the absorption of certain radiations in the upper atmosphere by oxygen. Due to such absorption, atmospheric oxygen gets dissociated and subsequently combines with molecular oxygen of upper atmosphere, thereby producing ozone.

Effects of Ozone Layer Depletion:

Ozone is a form of oxygen that is present in the earth’s atmosphere in small quantity. Its presence in the lower atmosphere closer to earth contributes to air pollution and causes damage to human tissues. But its presence in the outer reaches of the earth’s atmosphere is absolutely vital to life. Located 30 km above the surface of the earth, it provides a shield against the lethal ultraviolet rays of the sun. If these rays penetrate the ozone layer life would not be possible on earth.

The following are its other harmful effects:

(i) Increase in solar UV-B radiation adversely affects a number of important biological systems. Magnitude of the effects of enhanced levels of UV-B may vary among species and cultivators. Sensitive plants often show reduced photosynthesis, growth, flowering and yield.


(ii) Depletion of ozone layer has resulted in many skin related diseases. Melanoma, the particular form of skin cancer, is reported in many areas.

(iii) It reduces the crop productivity.

(iv) The depletion of ozone layer will induce eye cancer in the animals.

(v) The depletion of ozone layer leads to loss of various plants from terrestrial and aquatic habitats.

(vi) Due to it, UV radiation may cause greenhouse effect.

(vii) Ozone enters the body during breathing and thus causing lung disorders in human beings.

(viii) Ultraviolet radiation causes blood vessels near the skin’s surface to carry more blood, making the skin hot, swollen or red causing sunburns.

According to the World Bank estimates, diseases attributable to ozone depletion are about 3 lakh cases of skin cancer annually and 17 million cases of catarats.

Measures to Protect Ozone Layer Depletion:

The following are some measures to tackle this problem:


(i) The use of plastic should be banned in the country.

(ii) The production and use of CFCs should be banned.

(iii) The use of CFCs in aerosol, spray cans, egg crates etc. should be banned and their substitutes should be used.

(iv) New technologies should be adopted to recapture the CFCs released from the air-conditioners and refrigerators.