Ozone depletion is a crucial environmental issue on earth.
The ozone layer filters the sun's harmful ultraviolet B rays. If it gets depleted, too many ultraviolet rays will reach the earth's surface, causing health problems like skin cancer and eye cataracts, and killing crops. It may cause a greenhouse effect, gradually warming the earth to the point where the polar ice caps melt and flood the coastal cites.
The ozone layer is depleting due to the release of pollution containing man-made chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), bromine and chlorine. These chemicals are found mainly in aerosol sprays, refrigeration and air conditioning.
The Ozone Secretariat is the agency looking into this issue. It is in charge of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, an international agreement to eliminate 0zone depleting substances (ODSs).
Following the Montreal Protocol, CFCs have been phased out in developed countries by 1996. However, products bought before this agreement are still in use as they are expensive to replace. When they are thrown away, they should be carefully managed to prevent CFCs from escaping into the air.
I can do my part by using ozone friendly pesticides and disposing old refrigerators and air conditioners properly.
The ozone layer is in the second layer of the earth's atmosphere.
Overexposure to ulraviolet B rays causes skin cancer.
A hole in the ozone layer over the Antarctic was discovered in the 1980s as shown by the big purple spot.
These are examples of household items that contain CFCs which cause ozone depletion.
These are ozone friendly hairspray. We are encouraged to use ozone friendly products.
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