By Kimia Tabatabaei
After years of depletion, the ozone layer is showing positive signs of thickening, the UN scientific panel reported Sept. 10.
The ozone layer protects from dangerous ultraviolet light from the sun that can harm DNA and cause cancer.
According to How Stuff Works, ninety percent of the atmospheric ozone is in the earth’s stratosphere. The stratosphere serves as a natural setting which helps conduct the formation of the ozone. During this process, the oxygen absorbs 98 percent of the harmful UV light.
When released into the atmosphere, chemicals known as CFCs, or chlorofluorocarbons, can reach the stratosphere and destroy the ozone. According to Daily Mail, aerosol spray cans, Styrofoam, air conditioner units and refrigerators are a few items that indirectly contribute to the formation of “holes” in the ozone.
In the 1970s, researchers discovered that the CFCs commonly used in refrigeration and air-conditioning were escaping into the atmosphere, effectively destroying the ozone layer. Within a decade, a global agreement called the Montreal Protocol was signed to get rid of the chemicals. 190 nations have agreed to ban ozone-depleting chemicals.
The Montreal Protocol led to the increased use of HCFs (hydrofluorocarbons) and a drop in the use of CFCs helping to lessen contributions to global warming. Although HCFs do not harm the ozone layer, many are potent greenhouse gases. Several environmental groups are pushing nations to also reduce HFCs in the Montreal Protocol as earlier this week, the World Meteorological Organization announced that main greenhouse gas levels were at a record high.
Senior Olivia Zou, member of the NSHS Environmental Club, believes the earth is on the road to recovery and that the use of HFCs will eventually be reduced.
“There are always trade-offs in any kind of situations. It is wonderful that the ozone layer is recovering, and I’m sure steps will be taken in the future to address the HFCs problem. So, I think in general that the earth will improve sometime in the future.” Zou said.
Without the Montreal Protocol, 2 million additional cases of skin cancer would have occurred annually by 2030. In addition, the protocol helped prevent damage to wildlife, peoples’ eyes, and immune systems.
If the ozone hole continues to grow and the layer continues to thin away, every species on the planet will be affected. Without the ozone layer, the food chain will destabilize, plant growth will be disrupted, and there will be increased rates of skin cancer, eye problems and immune suppression, according to The Washington Post.
According to the Miami Herald, by acknowledging this issue, we can stop this brewing ecological crisis. However, while the hole has stopped growing, it will still take until 2050 in the mid-latitudes for the ozone to return to its relatively healthy 1980s conditions. Around the arctic, it will take until 2075 as it is the most damaged area. The ozone layer is still about 6 percent thinner than it was in 1970.
“At this point I’m not so sure the damage that has been done by the chemical reactions with the CFCs can be replaced in the near future,” said Mr. Vandergrift, Physics and Astronomy teacher at South. “If we continue to make some strides and decreasing the fluorocarbons that are in the atmosphere then we can help in the long term”.
