Can Medical Tubing Be. Cleaned With Ozone
The ozone layer is a natural region of ozone gas found along nine-18 miles (15-30 km) above the earth's surface called the stratosphere. It acts similar sunscreen, protecting the planet from the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
Ozone depletion is divers as the gradual thinning of the ozone layer nowadays in the lower portion of the earth'south stratosphere.
When Was Information technology First Identified
In 1974, Mario Molina and Sherwood Rowland recognized the threats of the ozone layer from compounds such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Their work received validation on May 11, 1985, when iii English scientists discovered a hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica. Their discovery is ordinarily known as the 'ozone hole' since the ozone depletion is not uniform. Later, ozone depletion was found to occur quickly at the poles and, to some extent, the equator.
What Causes Ozone Layer Depletion
Ozone is a highly reactive gas comprising of three oxygen molecules. Both ozone and oxygen molecules are constantly formed, destroyed, and reformed in the ozone layer as UV lite breaks the bonds between atoms, creating gratis oxygen atoms. Thus, the concentration of ozone fluctuates depending upon seasons and latitudes.
The 2 primary sources of ozone depletion are:
1. Man-fabricated Causes
Information technology is responsible for almost 90% of the total depletion. It occurs mainly due to the excessive release of chlorine and bromine from ozone-depleting substances (ODS) such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), and methyl bromide (CH3Br).
Here is a list of some main ozone-depleting compounds, along with their sources:
| Ozone-Depleting Substances | Sources |
|---|---|
| Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) | Refrigerators, air conditioners, air coolers, solvents, and dry-cleaning agents |
| Halons | Fire-extinguishers, electrical equipment such as estimator, and military equipment in ships, aircraft, and tanks |
| Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) | Solvent, degreasing agent, refrigerant, fumigant, and fire-extinguishers |
| Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) | Refrigerator, air-conditioner, insulating foams, and aerosol propellants |
| Methyl bromide (CH3Br) | Fumigants and pesticides |
2. Natural Causes
Sun-spots and stratospheric winds are the two major natural causes of ozone depletion. Together, they contribute not more than 1-ii% of the total depletion of the ozone layer. Their effect is temporary.
How is Ozone Layer Depleted: Mechanism and Equations
Aerosols such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) released from diverse human-made sources brand their way into the stratosphere by destroying the troposphere and the ozone layer. The machinery is given below:
CFCs are broken up by ultraviolet radiations (UV-A, UV-B, AND UV-C) from the dominicus releasing chlorine. In one case the chlorine is released, it reacts with ozone (O3) to course chlorine monoxide (ClO) and oxygen (O2).
Cl + Othree = ClO + O2
When a molecule of chlorine monoxide (ClO) meets an oxygen atom, information technology breaks up, releasing chlorine.
ClO + O = Cl + Oii
The free radical of chlorine again reacts with other ozone molecules. Information technology destroys its construction, thus producing a catalytic cycle of chlorine.
Based on the Ecology Protection Agency (EPA) report, one chlorine atom can destroy more than 100,000 ozone molecules, thus destroying them more apace than produced naturally. Afterwards information technology was discovered that bromine and specific bromine-containing molecules such every bit bromine monoxide were nearly 40 times more potent than chlorine at destroying ozone.
Harmful Effects
Some of the chief consequences or impacts of ozone layer depletion on globe are given beneath:
- Damage to Human Heath: If the ozone layer is completely depleted, humans volition become directly exposed to intense UV light from the lord's day. Overexposure to UV rays is responsible for skin cancer, cataracts, sunburns, immune deficiency disorders, and rapid aging.
- Affecting Growth of Plants: Many crops such as barley, wheat, corn, oats, rice, tomatoes, and cauliflower are vulnerable to intense UV light, causing a reduction in their growth rate, flowering, and photosynthesis.
- Skin and Eye Cancer in Animals: Like humans, animals exposed to UV calorie-free for an extended period can cause peel and eye cancer.
- Threat to Marine Life: The growth of certain marine planktons decreases when exposed to high UV light. Since planktons appear at a higher level of the nutrient chain, the entire marine ecosystem gets disturbed. Also, severe reproductive defects are found in the fishes, thus decreasing their population.
- Causing Chemic Degradation: Human-made chemicals such as plastics, forest, fabrics, and rubber become hugely degraded on exposure to UV light.
Solutions and Control Measures
In 1987, Montreal Protocol was proposed to stop the production, utilize, and import of ozone-depleting substances to minimize their concentration in the atmosphere. It was aimed at protecting the atmospheric ozone layer. It was a landmark agreement to phase out all those substances that have been ratified by all 197 Un (UN) member countries.
- Some of the crucial means to forestall ozone layer depletion are listed below:
- Replacing halon-based fire extinguishers with other cream-based forms
- Discouraging to buy refrigerators and air conditioners that utilize CFCs as a refrigerant
- Servicing old electric equipment like air conditioners and air coolers reduces the release of chlorofluorocarbons.
- Discouraging the use of cleaning solvents containing CFCs or ammonia and encouraging natural and eco-friendly cleaning products
- Minimizing the apply of personal vehicles and using public transport reduces greenhouse gases that deplete the ozone layer.
- Prohibiting the employ of air pollutants such as nitrous oxide that decompose ozone into nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and oxygen gas (Otwo)
- Avoid the use of fossil fuels and increasing dependence on renewable sources of energy.
Summary and Determination
- Ozone layer depletion is the depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer of the earth.
- Artificial sources producing ozone-depleting substances are the leading cause of ozone-depletion
- Its depletion causes an increased UV low-cal to reach the earth'south surface.
- Increased UV low-cal is the reason behind several health problems like skin cancer, cataracts, sunburns, immune deficiency disorders, and aging in humans and animals.
- We should be well aware of the harmful furnishings and the agents that cause ozone layer depletion and take appropriate measures to reduce and avoid their use.
- We should pledge to preserve nature and make information technology sustainable to live.
FAQ
Q1. Does ozone depletion lead to global warming?
Ans. Ozone depletion does not cause global warming; instead, both these environmental problems are acquired by human activities.
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References
Article was last reviewed on Friday, November 12, 2021
Source: https://www.sciencefacts.net/ozone-layer-depletion.html
Posted by: mundyacto1941.blogspot.com
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