ajor factor that makes life possible on Earth. About 90% of the planet’s ozone is in the ozone layer. Ozone in this layer shields and filters out the Earth from 95-99 percent the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. A low level of ozone does not protect or prevent the sun’s ultraviolet rays from reaching the surface of the Earth, therefore, overexposing life on Earth causing many diseases. The depletion of the ozone is caused by many factors, but the one cause that will be elaborated on in the next paragraph is the main reason our ozone is continuously being poisoned. The major cause in the depletion of the Earth’s ozone layer is because of the release of chlorofluorocarbons into the atmosphere. Chlorofluorocarbons also known as CFCs, are industrially produced chemical compounds that contain the elements chlorine, fluorine, carbon, and sometimes hydrogen that will break down the protective ozone in the atmosphere. Since CFCs are heavier than air, the process of CFCs reaching the ozone will generally take from two to five years to get into the stratosphere. When CFCs reach the stratosphere, the sun’s ultraviolet radiation cause them to break apart. Therefore, the chlorine atoms inside the CFCs are released and will react with ozone, starting a chemical destruction cycle of ozone. To show the extent of destruction chlorine can produce, one chlorine atom can break apart more than 100,000 molecules of ozone. Chlorofluorocarbons are not naturally produced chemical, but shockingly are all man-made products. CFCs products and other ozone depleting substance are everywhere and come in all forms such as: aerosol spray cans, industrial cleaning agents, insulators, Styrofoam’s, coolants, auto air conditioners, home air conditioners and refrigerators (see next the pie chart on next page for more information). Majority of CFCs contributing to depletion is the auto air conditioners in our cars. The CFCs inside auto and home air conditioning systems, as well as in refrigerators can leak out, and eventually will rise into the atmosphere destroying the ozone layer. According to Greenpeace, “The manufactures of CFCs and other ozone depleting products include: Dupont, Elf-Atochem, ICI, LaRouche, Rhone Poulenc, Nippon Halon, and Allied Signal” (Greenpeace). The total value of all the ozone depleting products since 1986 exceeded $30.6 billion, with the United States producing a large majority of the products. There are other elements and man-made chemicals that contribute to the ozone depletion. Any form of elemental bromine that reacts with ozone is very violotile. For examaple, methyl bromide is a compound that is used as a pesticide and fumigant; the break down of bromine atoms in pesticides due to the sun’s rays, can be more than 40 times as destructive to ozone molecules than chlorine atoms. Halons which are used in fire extinguishers contain bromine and are also depleters of the ozone. Another product that is destructive is methyl chlorofoam, in which are solvents in industrial processes. Hydrochlorofluorocarbons are known as HCFCs, they are categorized as class II ozone depleting substances because these products do not deplete the ozone as much as CFCs. HFCs are currently being used as replacements for CFCs, even though they deplete the ozone to some extent. Man-made chemicals are not the only way

Some topics in this essay:
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