Question

"Damage to the ozone layer is a cause for concern". Justify this statement. Suggest any two steps to limit this damage.

Answer 1

“Damage to the ozone is a cause of concern”; this is because ozone depletion has created a hole in the ozone layer over the Arctic region.

Damage in the ozone layer allows the harmful UV rays to reach the earth surface. UV rays can cause -

• skin cancer, ageing and corneal cataracts in human beings
• death of many phytoplanktons leading to the increase in the rate of global warming
• increase in the global warming rate, in turn, leads to the melting of Arctic ice cap which may further result in the increase in sea level

Steps which can limit the damage to the ozone layer are -

• Not buying products in aerosol cans and maintaining air-conditioning filters and units. In order to halt the depletion of the ozone layer, countries around the world have banned the use of chlorofluorocarbons and other ozone-depleting substances. These compounds produce chlorine and bromine atoms which reach the atmosphere react with ozone, thus destroying it.
• By minimising the use of vehicles to limit the emission of harmful gases which cause damage to the ozone layer.