Ozone layer

A tiny layer of the atmosphere called the ozone layer on Earth absorbs almost all of the sun's harmful UV
rays. The term "ozone holes" is frequently used to describe ozone layer degradation. That is incorrect.
Damage to the ozone layer is more akin to a very thin patch than a hole.
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/ozone-layer/

‘Good ozone’ and ‘bad ozone’

'Bad ozone' is a common term for tropospheric ozone, which is ozone that is relatively close to the
earth's surface. In comparison to the stratosphere, the troposphere has lower ozone concentrations.

We can see this in the diagram.

However, due to emissions from industrial processes, electric utilities, and chemical solvents, ozone
concentrations close to the Earth's surface can occasionally and locally be greater. Ozone at ground level
is a local air pollutant that poses a threat to people's health. The young, old, and those with preexisting
respiratory issues are most vulnerable to the negative effects of ozone exposure.
This is extremely dissimilar than stratospheric ozone, which is found high in the atmosphere. 'Good
ozone' is the term used to describe it.

411. Ground-level ozone is a local air pollutant, and can negatively impact human health. Breathing
ozone is particularly harmful to the young, elderly, and people with underlying respiratory problems.

This is very different from ozone high in the atmosphere: stratospheric ozone. It’s referred to as ‘good
ozone’.

As shown in the diagram, ozone concentrations are higher in the stratosphere than in the troposphere.

The stratosphere includes the zone commonly called the ‘ozone layer’. It plays a crucial role in keeping
the planet habitable by absorbing potentially dangerous ultraviolet (UV-B) radiation from the sun. Before
its depletion, the ozone layer typically absorbed 97 to 99% of incoming UV-B radiation.

This means we need high ozone concentrations in the stratosphere to ensure that life — including
human life — is not exposed to harmful concentrations of UV-B radiation.

In our work on the ozone layer, we focus on this ozone high in the atmosphere (the ‘good ozone’). The
impact of ozone near the surface (‘bad ozone’) is covered in our work on air pollution.

Why is the ozone layer important?

The ozone layer absorbs 97% to 99% of the sun’s incoming ultraviolet radiation (UV-B).

This is fundamental to protecting life on Earth’s surface from exposure to harmful levels of this radiation,
which can damage and disrupt DNA.

In the 1970s and ‘80s, humans emitted large amounts of gases that depleted this ozone in the upper
atmosphere. As ozone concentrations in the stratosphere fell, and a hole in the ozone layer opened up,
there have been measurable increases in the amount of UV-B radiation reaching the surface.

The chart shows the measured change in annual quantities of UV irradiance reaching Earth’s surface, in
2008 compared to 1979.1

What’s noticeable is that ozone depletion and UV irradiance have increased much more in the Southern
Hemisphere. This is because ozone depletion is also impacted by temperature and sunlight.
Temperatures are colder at high latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere, so polar stratospheric clouds can
form. These clouds can accelerate the reactions that break ozone down.

You will also notice that ozone depletion is worse at higher latitudes. It’s non-existent at the equator, and
rises steeply towards the poles. Again, this is influenced by temperature and sunlight. That’s why ozone
holes form at the poles, rather than the equator.

This increase in UV-B irradiation reaching the surface matters for life on Earth. One of the biggest
concerns has been an increased risk of skin cancer (as well as skin damage and aging).2 This is because
UV-B irradiation can damage skin DNA.
Since the 1980s, the world has achieved rapid progress: the near-elimination of ozone-depleting
substances and the trend toward recovering the ozone layer are among the most successful international
environmental achievements to date.

Several studies have estimated that millions of excess skin cancer cases have been avoided due to the
Montreal Protocol and its follow-up treaties.3

https://ourworldindata.org/ozone-layer-context

Cause of the ozone depletion

Ozone layer depletion is the thinning of the ozone layer present in the upper atmosphere. This happens
when the chlorine and bromine atoms in the atmosphere come in contact with ozone and destroy the
ozone molecules. One chlorine can destroy 100,000 molecules of ozone. It is destroyed more quickly
than it is created.

Some compounds release chlorine and bromine on exposure to high ultraviolet light, which then
contributes to ozone layer depletion. Such compounds are known as Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS).

The ozone-depleting substances that contain chlorine include chlorofluorocarbon, carbon tetrachloride,
hydrochlorofluorocarbons, and methyl chloroform. Whereas, the ozone-depleting substances that
contain bromine are halons, methyl bromide, and hydro bromofluorocarbons.

Chlorofluorocarbons are the most abundant ozone-depleting substance. It is only when the chlorine
atom reacts with some other molecule, it does not react with ozone.

Montreal Protocol was proposed in 1987 to stop the use, production and import of ozone-depleting
substances and minimise their concentration in the atmosphere to protect the ozone layer of the earth.

Also Read: Environmental Issues

Ozone layer depletion is a major concern and is associated with a number of factors. The main causes
responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer are listed below:

1.Chlorofluorocarbons
Chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs are the main cause of ozone layer depletion. These are released by
solvents, spray aerosols, refrigerators, air-conditioners, etc.

The molecules of chlorofluorocarbons in the stratosphere are broken down by ultraviolet radiations and
release chlorine atoms. These atoms react with ozone and destroy it.

2.Unregulated Rocket Launches

Researches say that the unregulated launching of rockets results in much more depletion of the ozone
layer than the CFCs do. If not controlled, this might result in a huge loss of the ozone layer by the year
2050.
3.Nitrogenous Compounds
The nitrogenous compounds such as NO2, NO, N2O are highly responsible for the depletion of the ozone
layer.

4.Natural Causes
The ozone layer has been found to be depleted by certain natural processes such as Sun-spots and
stratospheric winds. But it does not cause more than 1-2% of the ozone layer depletion.

The volcanic eruptions are also responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer.

https://byjus.com/biology/ozone-layer-depletion/

EFFECT OF THE OZONE DEPLETION

Ozone depletion is affecting the human health and environment negatively, as it allows the penetration
of UV radiations to reach the Earth. These radiations can cause severe diseases in humans such as skin
cancer, eye damage and genetic mutations etc. [9] . Furthermore the ozone depletion is affecting the
aquatic life, biogeochemical cycles, air quality and also contributing in Global warming but in this review
paper our main focus is on the effects of ozone depletion on human health [1] .

4.1. Effects on Eyes

The major cause of blindness in this world is cataracts. There would be 0.3% - 0.6% increase in risk of
cataract if there will be 1% decrease in Ozone level [14] . Eye lens can be damaged by oxidative agents.
Oxidative oxygen produced by UV radiation can severely damage eye lens and cornea of eye is also badly
damaged by UV radiation [15] -[17] . Photokeratitis, cataract, blindness all are caused due to UV rays [18]
.

4.2. Effects on Skin

Exposure to UV radiations can cause skin cancer. UV radiations alter the structure of biomolecules and
thus lead to different diseases [10] [19] Skin is the most often exposed part of body to UV radiations
There are two types of skin cancer, Melanoma and Non-melanoma. Melanoma is most serious form of
cancer and is often fatal, while non-melanoma is most common type and less fatal. Depletion of ozone
layer leads to both Sun burn and skin cancer [20] . UV radiations are also responsible for breast cancer
and leukemia [18] .

Epidemiological studies of Melanoma indicate that the incidence of melanoma is increasing in those
countries having high ratio of cases [21] - [23] . As UV radiations can penetrate more easily in thin skin so
there is greater number of incidence is found in thin skinned people. It is found that the incidence of
Melanoma is more in children than adults. The chance of incidence of melanoma is correlated with UV
exposure furthermore the survival chance of melanoma is less in boys as compared to girls [24] [25] . As
the intensity of radiation increases in summer so the risk of melanoma in thin skinned people is
increased in summer and it is more in females as compared to males as their skin is thinner than males
[26] [27] .
There is considerable relationship between melanoma risk and intermittent sun exposure and sunburn
history [28] . There is also a direct relationship between air travelling and melanoma incidence [29] .
However the studies revealed that genetic factors contribute more for having melanoma disease than
behavioral aspects [30] . The epidemiological studies of non melanoma skin carcinoma (NMSC) indicates
that its risk is more in young females in lower limbs [16] [20] and sunbathing increases its risk five times
in trunk region.

4.3. Effects on Human Immunity

Exposure to UV radiations can also result in suppression of immune response to skin cancer, infectious
diseases and other antigens [1] . The immunosupression is due to changes in skin photoreceptors and
antigen presenting cells that are brought by UV radiations [31] . More increase in depletion of ozone
results in more decrease in immune system [10] .

4.4. DNA Damage and Lung Diseases

Short exposure to UV-B radiations can cause the DNA damage because UV radiations can disturb
biomolecules such as lipids, proteins and Nucliec acids. Due to UV-B radiations there would be cryptic
transposable elements which may lead towards the mutations which is more dangerous than the
immediate DNA damage [32] . Excessive UV-B radiation exposure results in the basal and squamous cells
carcinomas. These types of cancers are induced due to transcriptional errors during DNA replication
which are caused by changes in pyrimidine bases. The ultimate cause of this whole mechanism is found
to be the prolonged exposure to UV radiations. It is estimated that there is increase of 2% of incidence of
these cancers by 1% depletion of ozone layer [33] . Exposure to UV radiations equally affects lungs.
Bronchitis, obstruction of lungs, Emphysema, asthma all can be resulted from UV radiations exposure
[18] .

4.5. Effects of Hydrogen Peroxide on Human Health

Due to stratospheric ozone layer depletion UV radiations are penetrating in earth atmosphere which
result in the production of reduced oxygen. Highly reactive species like hydrogen peroxide is produced
which has bad effects on human health. It is ideal photochemical maker due to its long life and stability
[1] [34] . Hydrogen peroxide is toxicant and it pollutes drinking water especially in lakes and makes water
toxic and unfit for drinking. IT alters redox chemistry of metals that are used by our body like iron copper
and manganese [35] .

4.6. Effect of Food Shortage on Human Population

Depletion of ozone layer is also causing the problem of food shortage to humans. UV radiations are
disturbing developmental and physiological processes which is decreasing the productivity of crops. As
humans are heavily dependent on crops for food so there is a great chance if depletion of ozone layer is
not checked it may cause seriously shortage of food to humans [36] . Researches also show that UV
radiations can also be used to enhance yield of crops by the use and application of phytohormones [37]
[38] .

https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation.aspx?paperid=63065

solutions or strategies for managing a problem of ozone depletion