Harmful Impact Of Ozone Depletion

The observation of the events pertaining to the depletion of the ozone layer dates back to a sudden fall in the stratospheric ozone and a constant decrease of an estimated four percent of the ozone in the atmosphere. This phenomenon is also referred to as the ozone hole, which consists of many ozone depletion events in the layer of the troposphere during the time of spring in addition to the observed events occurring in the stratospheric.

The primary causes of ozone depletion are manufactured halocarbon refrigerants, solvents, propellants, and chlorofluorocarbons which are also referred to as ozone-depleting substances. The compounds are further transported back into the stratosphere by the turbulent mixing after they have been released from the surface, such that the rate of mixing of these molecules is much faster than they can settle.

When the given molecules enter the stratosphere, atoms are emitted from the halogen group counterparts by the process of photodissociation. Due to this, the ozone breaks down into oxygen. Both of the above-mentioned ozone depletion events have been found to increase as the rate of emissions of hydrocarbons has increased.

Ozone depletion and ozone holes have generated alarming concerns worldwide over the increasing risks of health diseases and other negative effects. The ozone layer shields the atmosphere against the harmful effects of ultraviolet light from entering the Earth’s atmosphere.

When they enter the atmosphere and interact with humans, these wavelengths cause many diseases such as cancer, cataract, sunburn, permanent blindness, etc. The rate of such as the latter mentioned in the above texts was theorised to increase dramatically due to a decrease in the height of the ozone layer. It significantly affects the health of plants and animals.

Effects of the ozone depletion on the people and plants

As explained before, the Ozone Layer absorbs the ultraviolet radiation from the Sun, which helps decrease UVB levels near the surface. Although, it has been theorised that a decrease in the stratospheric ozone could be tied to the CFC is an increase in the surface level of UVB (Ultraviolet Beta) radiations.

However, there is no direct observational evidence that the thinning of the ozone layer is linked to the higher rate of skin cancer and cataract in human beings. Ozone depletion could also affect the wind patterns on Earth.

Let us discuss each of these effects in detail.

Cataracts

Studies performed by many scientists worldwide have suggested a direct association between cortical cataracts and UV exposure using epidemiological techniques. 

This study was performed on Chesapeake bay Watermen where an increase in average annual ocular exposure corresponded with an increasing rate of cortical capacity.   

The results show that out of the highly exposed group of males, evidence aiming at linking the cortical opacities to sunlight exposure was one of the strongest to date. Analysis of these results tells us that ozone depletion may as well cause an alarming rate of hundreds of thousands of additional cataract cases by 2050.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is produced when the skin of a person interacts with ultraviolet light, and the human brain undertakes a chemical reaction converting a specific form of cholesterol into Vitamin D. Therefore, an increase in the exposure to UV will raise the level of vitamin D production even in those deficient in it.

Studies performed by scientists worldwide have suggested that average vitamin D levels in humans have decreased over the years. An increase in the rate of the white blood level of Vitamin, specifically in excess of a rate of 100 ng/ml, would increase the blood calcium.

However, the body has specific mechanisms to reduce the level of vitamin D produced more than the body’s requirements in the presence of excess sunlight. Therefore, humans would be immune to this particular aspect through their biological responses.

Skin Cancer

One of the most common and identified forms of skin cancer ever observed in humans due to fatal exposure to UVB is basal and squamous cell carcinomas. The process through which ultraviolet light causes these skin diseases are understood. The skin’s observed absorption of excessive radiation causes the perimeter basis in the DNA molecular structures to form dimers.

These affect the DNA’s ability to replicate itself first, resulting in transcription errors. These diseases are relatively less fatal, but sometimes, the treatment of these cancer diseases requires extensive surgery and higher cost such that the person would be immune to the disease. Based on the epidemiological data combined from various animal studies performed worldwide, it has been estimated that a corresponding decrease in the width of the stratospheric ozone layer wood results in the inducing of these cancer diseases by an average of 2% per year.

Effect on Crops and Plants

Due to an increase in the level of UV radiation, the production of both crops and plants should be severely affected. Species such as rice depend extensively on one particular species of bacteria, i.e., cyanobacteria, which resides in the roots of the plants for the processes of nitrogen retention.

Rice is one of the most economically important species of plants, where cyanobacteria are highly sensitive to the level of UV radiation. “Despite mechanisms to reduce or repair the effects of increased ultraviolet radiation, plants have a limited ability to adapt to increased UVB levels. Therefore plant growth can be directly affected by UVB radiation.”

Conclusion

Ozone depletion was initially discovered back in 1970 in two cases: one of them was the discovery of decrease in the level of the ozone layer in the Earth’s atmosphere and a larger expected decrease in the level of stratospheric ozone layer present around the Earth’s north pole and the South Pole.

The reason attributed to the depletion in the ozone layer and Ozone hole was given to the increased production of manufactured chlorofluorocarbons, propellants, solvents, etc. When the industries release them, these compounds travel into the stratosphere and interact with the Ozone Layer to form oxygen compounds.

Ozone Lead Shields the Earth from UV radiation, and therefore a decrease in the layer enables UV radiation to enter the Earth’s atmosphere. When the UV rays interact with the human body, they can cause skin cancer and cataracts.