THINNING OF OZONE LAYER

ENVIRONMENT
MANAGEMENT
Presented By:
Prerana Yadav
Rohan Mahabal
Vishal Oza
Prasad Shenai
Prajakta Toke
Guided By:
Prof. Brijesh Sharma
1. Environment & Ozone Layer.
2. Benefits Of Ozone Layer.
3. Reasons for depletion of Ozone Layer.
4. Harmful effects of Ozone Layer Depletion.
5. Preventive Measures, Current scenario & conclusion.
 Environment
•
• Our Environment is our surrounding. This includes living
and non-living things around us. The non-living
components of environment are land, water and air.
The living components are germs, plants, animals and
people.
• All plants and animals adjust to the environment in which
they are born and live. A charge in any component of
the environment may cause discomfort and affect
 Ozone and Its Origin
• Ozone , or Trioxygen (IUPAC name), is a triatomic molecule, consisting of three oxygen
atoms.

• Ozone in the Earth's stratosphere is created by ultraviolet light striking oxygen molecules

containing two oxygen atoms (O2), splitting them into individual oxygen atoms (atomic

oxygen); the atomic oxygen then combines with unbroken O2 to create ozone, O3.

• Ozone in the lower atmosphere is an air pollutant with harmful effects on the respiratory
systems of animals and will burn sensitive plants; however, the ozone layer in the upper
atmosphere is beneficial, preventing potentially damaging electromagnetic radiation from
reaching the Earth's surface.
Atmosphere
•
Ozone Layer
The ozone layer was discovered in 1913 by the French physicists Charles Fabry and Henri
Buisson.
• The ozone layer sits in the stratosphere approximately 25km above the Earth.
• It is made up of ozone gases that act like a blanket to stop too much UV radiation from the
sun entering the atmosphere.
• This layer absorbs 97–99% of the Sun’s high frequency ultraviolet light, which is damaging
to life on Earth.
• As UV radiation hits the Ozone layer the ozone gas absorbs the radiation and turns it into
oxygen.
• The Ozone layer prevents the harmful UV radiation entering the Earth, which is vital because
too much of these UV rays can cause cancer, cataracts and DNA damage.
• Small amounts of ozone are constantly being made by the action of sunlight on oxygen. At
the same time, ozone is being broken down by natural and unnatural processes that lead
to ozone depletion. If this process is greater than the production of ozone then the ozone
layer becomes thinner and less effective.
•
Benefits of Ozone Layer
• Umbrella of life
•
•
• Protect us from Ultra Violet Rays of sun
• Powerful sterilizing agents in the world.
•
• Ozone is five times more potent than molecular
Chlorine in destroying germs, bacteria, and
viruses.
•
• Doesn’t have a strong, over powering odour .
•
• Over 90% of all diseases, including the common
cold and the flu, are caused by water or airborne
bacteria and viruses. Like chlorine, ozone kills
microorganisms.
•
• The Native Americans, preferred fishing after a
storm, a practice which still takes place today.
•

• The explanation for this natural phenomenon is

that after an electric storm the upper layer of
water in lakes and rivers is enriched with
diluted oxygen and therefore naturally
Ozonated.
•
• Once this layer of water is Ozonated, harmful
viruses responsible for many diseases in fish
culture are destroyed, allowing for the healthier
fish to be found in this upper layer of
“healthier” ozone-rich water.
 • A good way to get oxygen into the body is
through water.
• Past tests have shown that consuming
oxygenated water increased the level of the
oxygen in the blood.
• When the blood supply has more oxygen
diseases have trouble growing.

Deoxygenated Oxygenated
Blood Blood
 CAUSES OF OZONE DEPLETION
Ø The cause of ozone depletion is due to the release of chemicals which contain chlorine and
bromine such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s) into the atmosphere by human activity.
Ø
Ø The most important compound, which accounts for almost 80% of the total depletion of
ozone in the stratosphere are chlorofluorocarbons (CFC).
Ø
Ø These compounds are very stable in the lower atmosphere of the Earth, but in the
stratosphere, they break down to release a free chlorine atom due to ultraviolet radiation.
Ø
Ø A free chlorine atom reacts with an ozone molecule (O3) and forms chlorine monoxide (ClO)
and a molecule of oxygen.
Ø
Ø Now chlorine monoxide reacts with an ozone molecule to form a chlorine atom and two
molecules of oxygen.
Ø
Ø The free chlorine molecule again reacts with ozone to form chlorine monoxide.
Ø
Ø The process continues and the result is the reduction or depletion of ozone in the stratosphere.
•
 HARMFUL EFFECTS OF
THINNING OF OZONE LAYER

ULTRAVIOLET RAYS
• SKIN CANCER
•

• SUNBURNS
•

• PREMATURE AGING
•
 CATARACTS OF EYES
• Cataracts are when the lens of the eye becomes
cloudy.
•

• 20 million cases worldwide.

•

• Account for half of blindness in the world.

•
 SUPPRESSION OF HUMAN
IMMUNE SYSTEM BY UV
RADIATION

• Increased incidence of infection.

• Promotion of cancer growth.
•
 REDUCTION IN
PHYTOPLANKTON
• Phytoplankton obtain energy through the
process of photosynthesis and must
therefore live in the well-lit surface layer of
an ocean, sea, lake, or other body of water.
Phytoplankton account for half of all
photosynthetic activity on Earth. Thus
phytoplankton are responsible for much of
the oxygen present in the Earth's atmosphere
– half of the total amount produced by all
plant life.
 SKIN CANCER EPIDEMIC
• Skin Cancer is most commonly found in USA.
• 1 in 5 Americans will become afflicted.
• New cases of Cancer coming up every year.
• 1 in 5 Americans will become afflicted.
• Basal cell carcinoma
– most common, least aggressive, locally
destructive.
• Squamous cell carcinoma
– more aggressive, can metastasize.
• Melanoma
– most aggressive, ~75% of all skin cancer deaths.
•
 OTHER EFFECTS
• Melting of Ice Bergs resulting in increase in ocean
levels.
•
• Reduction total area of Land surface resulting in
threats to human beings and other plant and
animal species.
•
• Damage to the DNA in various life-forms.
•
 Preventive measure of ozone
depletion
Ø Promotion of eco friendly nature.
Ø Use of infrared lasers.
Ø Dumping of ethane or propane in to Antarctic
stratosphere.
Ø Montreal protocol treaty
Ø Significant new alternative policy
programme(SNAP).
Ø EPAS( environmental performance assessment
system) partnership programme.
•
 Developing countries scenario

Ø Overuse of ozone depleting substances by

developed countries.
•

Ø Increasing pressure on developing countries.

.
•

Ø Lack of technology and money.

•

Ø Need of additional finance.

Ø

Ø Interference of US in developing countries.

•