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The ozone layer functions as a natural filter, absorbing the majority of the sun’s UV rays. Increased UV-B that reaches the earth’s surface due to stratospheric ozone depletion disrupts biological processes and damages a range of materials.
Ozone depletion has a severe impact on human health and the environment because it allows UV rays to reach the Earth. These rays can cause serious health problems in people, including skin cancer, eye damage, and genetic abnormalities, among other things. Furthermore, ozone depletion has an impact on aquatic life, biogeochemical cycles, air quality etc.
Effects of Ozone Layer Depletion
Effects on Human Health
The weakening of the ozone layer exposes people to UV light directly. The amount of UV that penetrates the Earth’s surface increases as the ozone layer depletes. UV promotes non-melanoma skin cancer and has a substantial influence in the development of malignant melanoma, which can lead to mortality, according to laboratory and epidemiological research. A 1% reduction in the ozone layer can result in a 5% rise in occurrences of skin cancer.
Exposure to UV rays has also increased the incidence of cataracts, a clouding of the eye’s lens that affects people’s vision and could lead to an increase in blindness. Damage to DNA can result from ozone depletion and an increase in UV radiation, which can lead to mutation. Other side effects include skin cell destruction, skin aging, and so on.
Effects on Animals
Many kinds of animals have been reported to get sunburned as a result of increased UV exposure in the animal kingdom. Certain crops will be harmed because they rely on cyanobacteria, which is extremely sensitive to changes in UV radiation levels. Increased levels, on the other hand, have been proven to allow for more Vitamin D production in the animal kingdom.
Effects on the Environment
Humans and wildlife are both affected by ultraviolet rays.. UV-B overexposure hinders the growth of practically all green plants.
UVB radiation has an impact on the physiological and developmental processes of plants. Despite mechanisms that have evolved to prevent or repair these impacts, as well as the ability to adapt to higher UVB levels, UVB radiation can have a direct effect on plant growth.
It is feared that ozone depletion will lead to the loss of plant species and a decrease in the world’s food supply. Because all life is interconnected, any change in the balance of plant species might have disastrous effects. Plants are the backbone of the food chain, they keep soil and water from eroding, loss, and they are the principal providers of oxygen and carbon dioxide sinks (storage sites).
Effect on Material
UVB radiation damages synthetic polymers, naturally occurring biopolymers, and several other commercial items. Special additions in today’s materials provide some UVB protection. Increases in UVB levels, on the other hand, will hasten their decomposition, limiting their usefulness for outdoor application.
Effect on Biogeochemical Cycles
The ozone layer’s depletion contributes to an increase in UVB radiation, which can cause biogeochemical cycles to shift. Changes in biogeochemical cycles can affect greenhouse gas sources and sinks, contributing to the global warming problem indirectly.
Conclusion
In this article we conclude that the ozone layer is rapidly diminishing, which is an extremely concerning problem in today’s world. Chlorofluorocarbons are the primary cause of ozone depletion.These compounds should be banned or replaced so that we can protect ourselves from the damaging effects of UV radiation in the future.
The human eye and skin are the bodily parts that are most exposed to these radiations. As a result, with the loss of the ozone layer, the incidence of blindness and skin cancer disease is increasing day by day. Ozone protects the Earth from the damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays of the Sun. Plants and planktons, which feed the majority of ocean life, are unable to thrive. Without the ozone layer in the atmosphere, life on Earth would be extremely impossible.
