| as given us innumerable blessings and one of it | | | | Ozone depletion is actually thinning of the ozone |
| undoubtedly is the ozone layer. The ozone layer is | | | | layer. Due to this thinning, holes have been |
| the layer that protects us from the harmful Ultra | | | | formed in the ozone layer. The first victim of |
| Violet rays of the sun. It contains high | | | | ozone depletion was Antarctica. There is a huge |
| concentrations of ozone (O3) which absorb most | | | | hole on top of it. This was discovered in 1984. |
| of these rays. It is a layer in the stratosphere, | | | | Now Ozone Depletion has become a major |
| some 15-20 miles above the ground. The | | | | environmental issue. Depletion of the ozone is |
| disappointing part is that although this layer is of | | | | taking place at both the hemispheres. It is |
| so much advantage to life on earth especially the | | | | happening everywhere except the tropics. |
| human beings, we are not taking adequate care | | | | There are a lot of adverse effects of Ozone |
| of it. This is leading to Ozone Depletion! | | | | Depletion. There is an increase in skin cancer as |
| The reality that the Ozone layer was depleting | | | | Ultra Violet rays are not being filtered and more |
| was found out in the mid- 1980's. There are a | | | | are reaching the Earths' surface. Every time 1 % |
| couple of causes for Ozone Depletion but the | | | | of the Ozone layer is lost 2% more UV rays |
| main cause of its destruction is the release of | | | | reach the surface of the planet. There is an |
| CFC's (chlorofluorocarbons).CFC's were used as | | | | increase in cataracts. In addition to this there is an |
| refrigerants in air conditioners and refrigerators | | | | increased risk of malaria and other infectious |
| freezers, in propellants in cleaners, room | | | | diseases. The Ultra Violet rays damage plants as |
| deodorizers, furniture polishes, hair spray and | | | | well. Ecosystems are also being destroyed. The |
| perfumes. They were used as blowing agents in | | | | environment is being damaged and the earths' |
| the production of Styrofoam and foam rubber as | | | | climate is also changing. Global warming is also a |
| well. They are highly toxic, highly flammable and | | | | consequence of Ozone depletion due to which the |
| highly reactive compounds. They are highly stable | | | | ice caps are melting and if this continued to |
| and accumulate in the atmosphere and deplete | | | | happen there will be flooding and our reserves of |
| the Ozone Layer. | | | | water will be wasted. |
| The depletion is a catalytic process by atomic | | | | A lot is now being done to save the ozone layer |
| chlorine. In the stratosphere the chlorine atom is | | | | from being depleted otherwise the effects on the |
| taken off from the CFC molecule. It then | | | | planet would be catastrophic. In 1987 the use of |
| combines with one of the three oxygen atoms in | | | | CFC's was banned under the Montreal Protocol a |
| the ozone molecule. This process continues until all | | | | treaty to protect the ozone. Now much more |
| the oxygen atoms are taken. One single chlorine | | | | environment friendly products are being used. |
| atom can destroy more than 100,000 molecules | | | | Now 16th September is celebrated as World |
| of ozone. | | | | Ozone Day. |