Question

78. Name the pollutants responsible for the following effects.
(e) depletion of ozone layer

Answer 1

• Ozone layer (O₃) present in the stratosphere plays a vital role in protecting the life on the earth's surface from harmful UV radiations.
• Ozone layer depletion is the gradual thinning of the earth’s ozone layer in the upper atmosphere caused due to the release of chemical compounds containing gaseous bromine or chlorine from industries or other human activities.
• When certain chemicals are exposed to strong ultraviolet radiation, they emit chlorine and bromine, which contributes to the ozone layer's depletion.
• Ozone Depleting Substances are substances that deplete the ozone layer (ODS).
• Chlorofluorocarbons, carbon tetrachloride, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, and methyl chloroform are all ozone-depleting substances that contain chlorine. Halons, methyl bromide, and hydro bromofluorocarbons are ozone-depleting substances that include bromine.

Hence, the pollutants responsible for depletion of ozone layer are Chlorofluorocarbons, carbon tetrachloride, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, methyl chloroform, Halons, methyl bromide, and hydro bromofluorocarbons.