The world’s ozone is depleting on a daily base. Individuals and industries are to blame. If we don’t slow down what is being introduced to the atmosphere, the effects on humans and the earth will be devastating. We must stop killing the earth’s ozone by watching what CFC’s get released, car pooling to control automobile emissions, and stop industries from polluting our atmosphere. The problems with a depleting ozone layer are an increase in skin cancer, global warming of the earth, and a greenhouse effect on the world. Stop and look at what we can do to resolve these problems.
Chorofluorocarbons (CFC’s) are used today for coolants in refrigeration for air conditioning, propellants in aerosol spray cans, and as solvents in the production of electronic equipment ( CQ Researcher 303). When CFC’s are released into the atmosphere, they drift upwards until they reach the ozone layer. When CFC’s remain in their original molecule form they are harmless (CQ Researcher 303). When ultraviolet rays come in contact with the CFC, it breaks down the molecule part. The CFC cell attaches to the ozone layer and begins multiplying and braking down the ozone layer.
Ozone destroying chemicals are extremely stable, so they last in the atmosphere for many decades. That means that if production of CFC’s and halons stopped today, the chemicals already released into the atmosphere would go on destroying ozone well into the 21st century. There is an ozone hole over Antarctic, it was discovered in 1985. Since CFC’s Watson 2 are still in air conditioners and refrigerators, releases and malfunctions from these existing units could cause it to take a century to get the ozone layer restored. Motor vehicles produce both nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons.
Nitrogen oxides re created when fuel is burned, and hydrocarbons are emitted when fuel fails to burn (Conservationist 17). Automobiles, lawn mowers, chain saws, and powerboats are examples of petroleum pollution. There were 189. 4 million vehicles registered nation wide in 1993. In 1977 142. 1 million vehicles were registered nation wide. Trucks alone have increased by 40% in the past ten years (Conservationist 17). States are requiring that tailpipe emissions meet established standards, thur inspection of motor vehicles. Many States require that gasoline pumps have a vapor recovery unit on them while efueling at service stations.
James Close, an environmental specialist, says, “States have joined other States to adopt a tougher motor vehicle emissions standard for hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxide, and carbon monoxide ( Conservationist 18) Industrial pollutants were primarily a problem well into the 20th century. Tall smokestacks capable of despensing pollutants over large areas were wide spread. Scientist has also traced the surprising levels of air pollution in the far north. This has become known as the Arctic Haze. This haze has been traced back to industrial centers in Europe.
Transboundry air pollutants were taken up at the Landmark Nations Conference on the Humans Environment. Participants did little to address the issue of air pollution specifically (Thin Blue Line 7). They did affirm the principle that governments are Watson 3 obliged to quote, “ insure that activities within there own jurisdiction or control do not cause damage to the environment of other States or area’s beyond their limits of national jurisdiction. The legal regime for transboundary air pollution has been partially successful. Sulfur dioxide emissions in Europe are currently down 40% from their 1980 evels (Thin Blue Line 8).
They may be down another 18% by the year 2010. Canada is considered to be the most at risk, because the thinning of the ozone layer has been most noticeable over the Arctic. The thinning of the ozone layer holds serious implications for Canada’s physicians. “Because of its northern location, Canada is one of the countries most at risk from harmful effects of ozone depletion,” said Desautels (Canada’s medical association journal 293). Desautel’s goes on to discuss that Canada has had a 300% increase in the rate of melanoma cancer between 1969 and 1992.
In 1997 t is estimated that 61000 Canadians will have developed skin cancer, and 3200 will have melanoma. Ozone depletion is one of the most serious health threats humans have ever faced. The federal government has failed to live up to its own commitments to lead by example in “ greening “ government (Canadian Medical Association Journal 292). Ozone depletion and global warming are in some ways closely related. CFC’s have been identified as “ greenhouse gases”, gases that trap solar heat inside the earth’s atmosphere. Think of a greenhouse with a glass roof and walls, they allow heat in, but it can’t escape.
CFC’s are the most potent heat retainers of all greenhouse gases: One CFC molecule has 20,000 times more impact on global temperatures than one molecule of Watson 4 carbon dioxide (Thin Blue Line 9). CFC’s are said to be responsible for a fifth of the greenhouse effect. Ozone depletion and greenhouse is more complicated than first appeared. Ozone absorbs as well as reflexes ultraviolet and visible radiation; it retains heat from the sun. For that reason, when ozone is destroyed, that part of the atmosphere were the ozone loss occurs loses heat. This will allow more heat to enter the earth’s atmosphere.
Scientist are now trying to determine if the cooling that occurs at altitudes where ozone is lost, spreads to lower altitudes and reduces temperatures on earth. There has been no ozone loss in the lower stratosphere over the tropics, which would cancel out a rise in temperature caused by CFC’s. International reaction to the proof CFC’s were destroying the ozone layer was swift. On September 16, 1987, 24 nations signed the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer. The agreement was a program to protect the environment. The ratifying nations accounted for 99% of the world’s production of CFC’s, and 90% of heir consumption.
The Montreal Protocol called for freezing halon emissions by 1992 and for having CFC emissions froze by 1998. Also having CFC production and importation froze by 1999 (The Thin Blue Line 9). The United States government reflected its concern over the fate of the ozone. Convinced of the dangers the United States promoted an ozone action plan to other countries, many which were hostile to the idea. The drafters of the Montreal Protocol also assured its success by making it flexible. It could rapidly amend to reflex subsequent changes in environmental conditions or new Watson 5 findings.
New findings were soon to test the flexibility. The hole over the Antarctica appeared bigger and soon instead of phasing out CFC’s by 2015, new guidelines set up phasing out CFC’s production by the year 2000. Carpooling is one option we can do to lower the amount of ozone depleting molecules into the atmosphere. This will help what is known as downstairs ozone. Especially when there is a “ ozone health advisory. ” We can limit the amount of driving we do. Rideshare or carpool is a very good option. Most cities offer some type of public transportation. You can also walk or bicycle when making close trips to your house.
Combining arrons to one trip will limit the number of times we harm the ozone. When you refuel your vehicle, do it after dusk. Keep your vehicle well tuned (Conservation 18) Around your house you can use less oil-based paints, solvents, and other products that evaporate easily or give off fumes. Instead of lighter fluid to light your grill use an electric starter. Limit yard chores that used gasoline powered equipment. An ozone healthy world will require these changes on both a societal and individual level. One or two people can’t make a difference, but millions working together to restore the ozone
Unlike many areas of environmental regulation, where industry resists making costly changes, the international effort to protect the ozone layer has been largely supported. Some industries are phasing out the used of CFC’s faster than required under current guidelines (The Thin Blue Line 19). Several makers of electronic equipment Watson 6 that utilize CFC’s for cleaning are American Telephone, Motorola, and Hugh Aircraft Co. These companies are now using solvents that don’t contain CFC’s. “ All major electronic manufactures have very aggressive programs,” says Steve Seidel, deputy irector of EPA’s change division (The Thin Blue Line 19).
Seidel has also praised the manufactures of refrigerators, he states “ most have new products that don’t use CFC’s”. In some cases going back to cleaners that don’t have CFC’s contain volatile organic compounds. These can contribute to health problems from breathing. HCFC’s were introduced to temporally substitute for CFC’s. These chemicals are less stable and break down more readily once they are released into the atmosphere ( Chemical Week 27). The Clean Air Act Amendments will phase out HCFC’s by the year 2030.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has announced that ozone depletion is rapidly decreasing. The Montreal Protocol has been in effect and is helping to restore the ozone. All humans on the face of the earth must do their part not to pollute the atmosphere. If we watch ourselves we can rest assure that our children’s children will enjoy this world as much as we have. If we continue to save the ozone, the greenhouse effect will vanish and the ozone will be up in the atmosphere filtering out radiant heat. Lets do our part and save the ozone for our grandchildren. Everyone together can make a big difference.
