Depletion of Ozone Layer

Name: Anis NImachwala

Enrollment no.: 150101101040

Subject: Environmental Studies

Semester: 9

Introduction:
Ozone Layer :- “The ozone layer is a region in the earth’s stratosphere
that contains high concentrations of ozone and protects the earth from
the harmful ultraviolet radiations of the sun.”

The ozone layer is found in the lower portion of the earth’s

atmosphere. It has the potential to absorb around 97-99% of the
harmful ultraviolet radiations coming from the sun that can damage
life on earth. If the ozone layer was absent, millions of people would
develop skin diseases and weakened immune systems.

Issues, causes and impacts:

The 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:

·0 Chlorofluorocarbons or the CFC are the main cause of ozone

layer depletion. These are released by soaps, solvents, spray
aerosols, refrigerators, air-conditioners, etc.

·1 The molecules of chlorofluorocarbons in the stratosphere are

broken down by the 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 result in

much more depletion of 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

·4 The nitrogenous compounds such as NO2, NO, N2O are highly

responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer.

·5 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 ozone
layer.

·6 Permanent exposure to UV rays can also lead to weakening of

the response of immune system and even permanent damage to
immune system in some cases.

·7 Plants become another casualty by radiation effects of UV rays.

The physiological and developmental processes of plants are also
severely affected apart from the growth. Some other changes
that are caused by UV inlcude the way plants form, timing of
development and growth, how nutrients are distributied within
the plant and metabolism, etc.

·8 UV rays are also known to affect the development stages of fish,

shrimp, crab, amphibians, and other marine animals. When this
happens it affects whole marine food chain as animals in the
upper food chain that feed on these fishes are also affected.

·9 Increases in UV radiation alters both sources and sinks of

greenhouse gasses in the biosphere e.g.: e.g., carbon dioxide,
carbon monoxide, carbonyl sulfide, ozone, and possibly other
gases. Changes in UV levels would contribute to biosphere-
atmosphere feedbacks that mitigate or amplify the atmospheric
concentrations of these gases.

Steps taken by Government:

The Montreal Protocol

In 1987, to address the destruction of the ozone layer, the international

community established the Montreal Protocol on ozone-depleting
substances. It was the first international treaty to be signed by all
countries of the world and is considered the greatest environmental
success story in the history of the United Nations.

·10 The Montreal Protocol’s objective is to cut down the production

and consumption of ozone-depleting substances, in order to
reduce their presence in the atmosphere and thus protect the
Earth's ozone layer.

·11 The chart below shows the decreasing consumption of ozone-

depleting substances covered by the Montreal Protocol, both
globally and by the EEA-33 (the 28 EU Member States plus
Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey).

·12 Consumption of controlled ozone-depleting substances

Source: European Environment Agency

EU regulation

EU legislation on ozone-depleting substances is among the strictest

and most advanced in the world. Through a series of regulations, the
EU has not only implemented the Montreal Protocol but has often
phased out dangerous substances faster than required.

·13 The current EU ‘Ozone Regulation’ (Regulation (EC) 1005/2009)

contains a number of measures to ensure a higher level of
ambition. While the Montreal Protocol regulates the production of
these substances and their trade in bulk, the Ozone Regulation
prohibits their use in most cases (certain uses are still permitted
in the EU). Moreover, it regulates not only substances in bulk, but
also those contained in products and equipment.

·14 The EU Ozone Regulation also sets licensing requirements for all
exports and imports of ozone-depleting substances and regulates
and monitors not only substances covered by the Montreal
Protocol (over 90 chemicals), but also some that are not covered
(five additional chemicals called 'new substances').