Ozone Depletion : Who is Affected?
The atmosphere is a blanket that covers the world and allows the living creatures of the world to survive. It holds in our oxygen and keeps the harmful UV rays away from the planet. Due to pollution and other causes, this blanket has been torn. Now we are not protected at the same level as before. Ozone depletion is one of the most significant environmental problems, which scientists around the world pays attention to, even in the United States. The ozone layer plays a critical role in filtering the appropriate amount of ultraviolet radiation (UV) penetrates to the surface of the earth. Ozone depletion, the result of over using chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons and methyl bromide has caused many negative effects on humans, plants, marine ecosystems and materials; however, we can help to reduce further depletion by limiting the use of such chemicals, which has been attempted in some cities in the USA.According to the Center for International Earth Science Information Network (2001), the major substance that destroys the ozone layer is the chemical widely known as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). This substance was invented in 1920's with the properties of low toxicity, nonflammability and nonreactivity with other chemicals. Becaus
First, increased UV level causes effects on human health. As we generally known that too much contact from UV on skin can cause skin cancer to humans. According to CIESIN (2001) they mention that one significant factor for generating skin cancer in each person is race. White American people are more likely to die with skin cancer than American blacks. Moreover, CIESIN also shows that the rate of people dying because of skin cancer is increased in both whites and blacks in the USA. In addition, the increased UV can cause cataracts, which is the disease of the lens that leads to blindness. In the USA, cataracts are the third major cause of blindness. Another effect on human health concerns with the immune system. The United States Global Change Research Information Office, GCRIO, (2001) states that high intensity of UV affects the immune system in human; without immunity, human can easily get infected by surrounding hazardous virus and bacteria. These problems directly affect human beings, which increase the death rate in each year. Furthermore, increasing UV level does not effect only on human health, but also effects on plants, which directly influence on humans. Lastly, increased UV level causes effects on materials. Ozone depletion will cause many materials to degrade faster. GCRIO (2001) describes that the synthetic polymer is widely used to be the component building construction and other outdoor applications, which are generally contacted by the sunlight. Increasing UV will decrease the age of these materials. It also effects the paint, which varnish on houses and buildings. UV affects the mechanical properties of these materials by limiting their useful life (EPA, 1997). Let assume that how much this effect will cause the USA pay for repainting and repairing the materials; and it may gradually increase every year. Actually, we can bring this amount of money to pay on something else which is more useful instead. Anyhow, we should try to find the solutions to prevent further depleting of the ozone layer in order to relieve its effects. O
Some common words found in the essay are:
UV Phytoplankton, Increasing UV, , Methyl Bromide, Furthermore EPA, Office GCRIO, Information Network, Atlanta Philadelphia, Moreover CIESIN, Innovative Diplomacy, ozone layer, ozone depletion, epa 1997, skin cancer, uv affects, human health, increasing uv, methyl bromide, effects plants, affect human, causes effects human, effects human health, uv level causes, marine ecosystems materials, depletion ozone layer,
Approximate Word count = 1388
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
