. . Ozone Layer and How it is Getting Depleted Ozone (O ) is a molecule formed by three atoms of oxygen. While O , which we normally refer to as oxygen, is essential for all aerobic forms of life.
Ozone, is a deadly poison. However, at the higher levels of the atmosphere, ozone performs an essential function. It shields the surface of the earth from ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun. This radiation Newspaper reports about pesticide levels in ready-made food items are often seen these days and some states have banned these products.
Debate in groups the need for such bans. What do you think would be the source of pesticides in these food items? Could pesticides get into our bodies from this source through other food products too? Discuss what methods could be applied to reduce our intake of pesticides.
is highly damaging to organisms, for example, it is known to cause skin cancer in human beings. Ozone at the higher levels of the atmosphere is a product of UV radiation acting on oxygen (O ) molecule. The higher energy UV radiations split apart some moleculer oxygen (O ) into free oxygen (O) atoms. These atoms then combine with the molecular oxygen to form ozone as shown— O+O UV Ozone) + ( The amount of ozone in the atmosphere began to drop sharply in the 1980s.
This decrease has been linked to synthetic chemicals like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) which are used as refrigerants and in fire extinguishers. In , the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) succeeded in forging an agreement to freeze CFC production at levels. It is now mandatory for all the manufacturing companies to make CFC-free refrigerators throughout the world. Collect waste material from your homes.
This could include all the waste generated during a day, like kitchen waste (spoilt food, vegetable peels, used tea leaves, milk packets and empty cartons), waste paper, empty medicine bottles/strips/bubble packs, old and torn clothes and broken footwear. Bury this material in a pit in the school garden or if there is no space available, you can collect the material in an old bucket/ flower pot and cover with at least cm of soil. Keep this material moist and observe at -day intervals. What are the materials that remain unchanged over long periods of time?
What are the materials which change their form and structure over time? Of these materials that are changed, which ones change the fastest? Find out from the library, internet or newspaper reports, which chemicals are responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer. Find out if the regulations put in place to control the emission of these chemicals have succeeded in reducing the damage to the ozone layer.
Has the size of the hole in the ozone layer changed in recent years?