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Science The controversial sale of 'Big John,' the world's largest Triceratops. It is also used as a catalyst to deliver chlorine ions to certain processes. Its ozone depletion potential is 1. Methyl chloroform is used as an industrial solvent. Its ozone depletion potential is 0. ODS that release bromine include halons halons Compounds, also known as bromofluorocarbons, that contain bromine, fluorine, and carbon.
They are generally used as fire extinguishing agents and cause ozone depletion. Bromine is many times more effective at destroying stratospheric ozone than chlorine. Methyl Bromide is an effective pesticide used to fumigate soil and many agricultural products. Because it contains bromine, it depletes stratospheric ozone and has an ozone depletion potential of 0. Production of methyl bromide was phased out on December 31, , except for allowable exemptions.
In the s, concerns about the effects of ozone-depleting substances ODS ODS A compound that contributes to stratospheric ozone depletion. Gaseous CFCs can deplete the ozone layer when they slowly rise into the stratosphere, are broken down by strong ultraviolet radiation, release chlorine atoms, and then react with ozone molecules.
See Ozone Depleting Substance. Aerosols are emitted naturally e. There is no connection between particulate aerosols and pressurized products also called aerosols. See below propellants. However, global production of CFCs and other ODS continued to grow rapidly as new uses were found for these chemicals in refrigeration, fire suppression, foam insulation, and other applications. Some natural processes, such as large volcanic eruptions, can have an indirect effect on ozone levels.
For example, Mt. Pinatubo's eruption did not increase stratospheric chlorine concentrations, but it did produce large amounts of tiny particles called aerosols aerosols Small particles or liquid droplets in the atmosphere that can absorb or reflect sunlight depending on their composition. These aerosols increase chlorine's effectiveness at destroying ozone.
The aerosols in the stratosphere create a surface on which CFC-based chlorine can destroy ozone. However, the effect from volcanoes is short-lived. Not all chlorine and bromine sources contribute to ozone layer depletion. For example, researchers have found that chlorine from swimming pools, industrial plants, sea salt, and volcanoes does not reach the stratosphere.
In contrast, ODS are very stable and do not dissolve in rain. Thus, there are no natural processes that remove the ODS from the lower atmosphere. One example of ozone depletion is the annual ozone "hole" over Antarctica that has occurred during the Antarctic spring since the early s. This is not really a hole through the ozone layer, but rather a large area of the stratosphere with extremely low amounts of ozone. Ozone depletion is not limited to the area over the South Pole.
Research has shown that ozone depletion occurs over the latitudes that include North America, Europe, Asia, and much of Africa, Australia, and South America. More information about the global extent of ozone depletion can be found in the Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion: developed by the United Nations Environment Programme. Skip to main content. Related Topics: Ozone Layer Protection.
Contact Us. Key Resources. Additional Information. Damage to respiratory systems is the most common effect on animals, but neurological problems and skin irritations are also common. Plants and crops grow less when exposed to long term air pollution. Ozone pollution harms plants by damaging structures called stomata, which are tiny pores on the underside of leaves that allow the plant to "breathe.
Between nine billion dollars worth of soybeans and corn were lost in the US as a result of ozone pollution. When acid rain, lead toxicity, and exposure to nitrogen oxides change the chemical nature of the soil, plants are robbed of the nutrients that they need to grow and survive. This impacts agriculture, forests, and grasslands. There are many other ways that air pollution affects living things, such as damaging the habitat, water, and food sources that plants and animals need to survive.
Burning fossil fuels releases sulfur and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere. Acid rain forms when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide mix with water droplets in the atmosphere to make sulfuric acid and nitric acid. Winds can carry these pollutants for thousands of miles, until they fall to the Earth's surface as acid rain that damages the leaves of vegetation, increases the acidity of soils and water, and is linked to over deaths each year.
Buildings and other structures are also impacted by acid rain, which causes an estimated five billion dollars worth of property damage each year. Acid rain dissolves mortar between bricks, causes stone foundations to become unstable, and is destroying ancient buildings and statues carved from marble or limestone. High levels of particulate pollution from all types of burning reduces the amount of sunlight that reaches the surface and even change the appearance of the sky.
When less sunlight is available for photosynthesis, forests grow at a slower rate and crops are less productive. Hazy skies not only reduce visibility, but also impact the weather and even the climate. In the ozone hole over Antarctica shown in blue was the smallest it has been since the hole was discovered. Since the banning of CFCs, the ozone hole continues to shrink, but scientists warn that complete recovery is still uncertain.
Credit: NASA.
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