Keshav Bhatia, Academic Content Writer at Edumarz
Ozone is a deadly poison for humans, but it serves a very important function for the earth.
This gas forms a layer that shields the Earth’s surface from the harmful ultraviolet radiation emitted by the Sun.
Ultraviolet radiation does DNA damage to plants as well as animals.
UV radiation is a known carcinogen that causes skin cancer in humans.
Ozone is produced when UV radiation (which has high energy) splits molecular Oxygen into free Oxygen atoms. These free oxygen atoms combine to form ozone.
In the 1980s the Ozone in the atmosphere started dwindling; this reduction was caused by Chlorofluorocarbons. Chlorofluorocarbons are used as refrigerants and fire extinguishers.
When CFCs are released in the atmosphere they rise up, when they reach the stratosphere they break up due to Ultraviolet radiation and start releasing Chlorine atoms. These Chlorine atoms are able to destroy ozone and convert it to oxygen.
In 1987, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) successfully reached an agreement to keep CFC production at 1986 levels. All manufacturing businesses are now required to produce CFC-free refrigerators all around the world.