Table of Contents
Why is the ozone hole so dangerous?
People, plants, and animals living under the ozone hole are harmed by the solar radiation now reaching the Earth’s surface—where it causes health problems, from eye damage to skin cancer.
How is the hole in the ozone layer dangerous to humans?
Ozone layer depletion causes increased UV radiation levels at the Earth’s surface, which is damaging to human health. Negative effects include increases in certain types of skin cancers, eye cataracts and immune deficiency disorders. UV rays also affect plant growth, reducing agricultural productivity.
What problems does the hole in the ozone level cause?
Depletion of this layer by ozone depleting substances (ODS) will lead to higher UVB levels, which in turn will cause increased skin cancers and cataracts and potential damage to some marine organisms, plants, and plastics.
What are the two main reasons for the ozone hole?
Reasons for the ozone hole The ozone hole has developed because people have polluted the atmosphere with chemicals containing chlorine and bromine. The primary chemicals involved are chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs for short), halons, and carbon tetrachloride.
What is wrong with ozone?
High concentrations of ozone near ground level can be harmful to people, animals, crops, and other materials. Ozone may also aggravate chronic lung diseases such as emphysema and bronchitis and reduce the immune system’s ability to fight off bacterial infections in the respiratory system. …
Is there a hole in the ozone layer 2021?
Despite the hole’s size this year, the ozone layer is still on a long-term path to healing. This data map shows the ozone hole in blue over the Antarctic on Sept. 16, 2021.
Is there still a hole in the ozone layer 2021?
“The 2021 ozone hole is now among the 25% largest in our records since 1979, but the process is still under way. Since the ban on so-called halocarbons the ozone layer has shown signs of recovery, but it is a slow process and it will take until the 2060s or 70s for a complete phasing-out of the depleting substances.
Where is bad ozone found?
troposphere
“Bad” ozone is found in the troposphere, the layer nearest the ground. Tropospheric ozone is a harmful pollutant which forms when sunlight alters various chemicals emitted by humans.