Implications to Society

 

Image result for ozone

 

1.Ozone Depletion and its implications to human health

Ozone molecules collect about 8km to 50km above earth ,varying based on the latitudes. These ozone molecules absorb harmful emissions which come from the sun, allowing life on earth to occur. Without the protection of ozone, life on earth is not possible. The majority of these emissions are Ultra Violet radiation, which is a form of light. Due to ozone depletion, higher and higher levels of Ultra violet radiation is reaching the earths surface, this have severe consequences to the health of the inhabitants of earth, most importantly humans.

Some of the effects that will occur on human are increased incidence of skin cancer, eye cataracts, and suppression of the human immune system.

Cancer will be caused due to increased rates of mutation on our human DNA. This is because the ozone layer is incapable of blocking UV radiation and UV radiation is a mutagen, meaning it causes our DNA to mutate resulting in cancer. Our skin covers our body surface and therefore is most exposed to UV radiation therefore skin cancer risks increase.

Eye cataracts will also be caused, which is a visual impairment disease that causes humans to go blind. This is also caused by UV radiation affecting our eyes.

Our immune system will also be suppressed by the UV radiation this causes increased infections and causing us humans to fall ill more easily and have a hard time recovering from infections.

 

 

http://theconversation.com/how-does-the-ozone-layer-protect-earth-from-radiation-9206

http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/air/ozone_layer_protection/wn6_info_olp_ue_c.html

https://www.reference.com/science/ozone-layer-protect-life-earth-775852f27141d738#

https://www.emaze.com/@AFRIIRCI/the-ozone-layer

2.Effects on Marine Ecosystems

Ozone depletion has led to a increase in UV radiation that decreased the production of phytoplankton, which are the foundation of aquatic food chains. UVB also affects the development and reproductive capacity of marine animals such as fishes and shrimps . These reductions in populations for small marine organisms can have serious consequences for the entire food chain in marine ecosystems.

3.Effects on Plants

UVB changes the plant form, distribution of nutrients in the plant and affects the development time of plants .This is implications on the plant competitive balance, the herbivores and biochemical cycles.

4.Effects on materials

UVB radiation has enough energy to break chemical bonds in polymers. This causes accelerated degradation in materials not protected by additives that protect from UV rays and decreases their useful lifetime outdoors.

https://www.epa.gov/ozone-layer-protection/health-and-environmental-effects-ozone-layer-depletiOn

5. Implication on efforts to protect the ozone layer

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In the 1970s, it was first discovered that man made chemicals, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) could lead to the depletion of the ozone layer. This lead to increasing concern about ozone depletion and the first international convention for the protection of Earth’s ozone layer. Negotiations started in 1981 and the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer was formalized in 1985. The Vienna convention established a framework for greater cooperation in research and monitoring efforts for the ozone depletion issue. However, no specific goals to reduce the production of CFCs was included.

Subsequently in 1987, The Vienna Convention lead to the signing of the Montreal protocol which originally required parties other than developing countries to freeze consumption and production of CFCs at 1986 levels. The countries were expected to reduce CFC consumption and production by 20% and an additional 30% by 1999. Halon consumption was to be frozen at 1986 levels. The agreement took effect on 1 January 1989.

With the help of newer research data, the damage to the ozone layer was found to be far more serious than expected, five more amendments following the Montreal protocol were made in 1990,1992,1997,1999 and 2016. Some amendments accelerated the schedule for complete phase out of CFCs while others  expanded the list of chemicals to be phased out, including some replacements for CFCs, such as HCFCs and HFCs, which are potent greenhouse gases. With these agreements in place, the ozone layer is expected to fully recover to its original concentration by sometime in the 21st century. The red line in the graph (Fig.1) shows the future recovery and the black line shows what the concentration of ozone would be if no regulations regarding CFCs were adopted. Fortunately, ozone depletion was discovered early enough and prompt action was taken.

Fig. 1 : ozone concentration vs time

extracted from https://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/world_avoided.html

References

https://www.epa.gov/ozone-layer-protection/international-treaties-and-cooperation

http://www.theozonehole.com/askthescientist.htm

http://ozone.unep.org/en/handbook-vienna-convention-protection-ozone-layer/2203

http://legal.un.org/avl/ha/vcpol/vcpol.html

https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3586