Implications to Society

Ozone is a very prominent gas compound in the stratosphere, and it is both beneficial in the stratosphere, and non-beneficial (in the troposphere) to society. The non-beneficial implications will be discussed below, with the focus on five main aspects of society, namely, 1. Human health, 2. Plants, 3. Marine ecosystems, 4. Materials, and 5. Biogeochemical cycles.

1. Ozone effects on human health

Ozone causes shortness of breath, dry cough, tightness of the chest, wheezing, and nausea. This is because ozone tends to reacts with molecules in the lining of our airways, causing it to lose some of its ability to serve as a protective barrier to microbes, toxic chemicals, and allergens. Our airways hence respond by covering the affected areas with fluid and by contracting muscles, making breathing more difficult. As such, it weakens the human immune system.1

Figure 4: Picture summarising the effects of ozone on human health

2. Ozone effects on plants

The ozone layer increases the amount of UVB radiation (solar UV radiation) that reaches the Earth’s surface. UVB radiation actually affects the physiological and developmental processes of plants; it causes certain indirect changes to plants such as modification of the plant form, effects on the system of how nutrients are distributed within the plant, and effects on timing of developmental phases and its secondary metabolism. These changes results in important implications for plant competitive balance, herbivory, plant diseases, and biogeochemical cycles.2

Figure 5: Picture showing the effects of ozone on plants

3. Ozone effects on marine ecosystems

Exposure to solar UVB radiation affects both orientation and motility in phytoplankton, resulting in reduced survival rates for these organisms. Since phytoplankton form the foundation of aquatic food webs, a reduction in population of phytoplankton results in a change of the population of the entire marine ecosystems. Loss of biodiversity in our oceans, rivers and lakes could reduce fish yields for commercial and sport fisheries.

Furthermore, UVB radiation damage ranges from affecting early developmental stages to having severe effects like decreased reproductive capacity and impaired larval development of fish, amphibians, and other marine animals. A small change in the small marine organisms population can result in a domino effect for the whole marine food chain.3

Figure 6: Picture showing the effects of ozone on the ecosystem

4. Ozone effects on materials

Materials like synthetic polymers, naturally occurring biopolymers, as well as some other materials are adversely affected by UVB radiation where an increase in UVB levels accelerates their breakdown and decreases their lifespan when used outdoors.

Figure 7 : Picture showing the types of materials ozone can have effect on.

5. Ozone effects on biogeochemical cycles

Increases in UVB radiation could affect terrestrial and aquatic biogeochemical cycles, thereby altering both sources and sinks of greenhouse and chemically important trace gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, carbonyl sulfide, ozone, and possibly other gases. This results in a change of the balance of the various atmospheric concentrations of the gases.

Figure 8: Picture showing the biogeochemical processes

References

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/OzoneWeBreathe/ozone_we_breathe2.php

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

http://www.bcairquality.ca/101/ozone-depletion-impacts.html

Figure 4: http://www.yalescientific.org/2011/11/the-bad-side-of-ozone-pursuing-ozone-abatement/

Figure 5: http://www.treehugger.com/clean-technology/ozone-hinders-plants-ability-to-absorb-carbon-dioxide.html

Figure 6: http://www.antarctica.gov.au/magazine/2001-2005/issue-1-autumn-2001/science/effect-of-ozone-depletion-on-antarctic-marine-microbes

Figure 7: http://www.iisc.ernet.in/ug/materials.html

Figure 8: http://www.meteor.iastate.edu/gccourse/alumni/chem/nitro/text.html