Ozone depletion has been a prblem since industrialization, and was first detected in 1975 over the Antarctic. It was found that the ozone was diminished by 50 percent, which is equal to that of the United States and reached almost as far as Australia and New Zealand. The role of the ozone layer is an important one; to filter deadly ultra violet rays that come from the sun, and therefore to enhance the immunities of plants and of all beings. Since 1975, ozone depletion has become more and more of a worrisome problem since its size has been incresing in the years to come, and has reached its largest size just a few years ago. Today's population, especially the yoounger generations that can make a difference, should take appropriate actions to improve on this situation, only because it affects the environment we live in, and the way we live our lives. Chemicals that we use evry day are depleting the ozone, and the effects that this involves are harmful to the way we live our lives.
Chloroflurocarbons, methyl bromide, and halons are all ozone depleting chemicals that are used daily all over the globe. Chloroflurocarbons, or CFCs, are used for cooling, for aerosol products, and for foam plastics. This chemical is so appealing because it is odourless, non-toxic, non-flammable, and is stable. It also depletes the ozone at an alarming rate; one chlorine molecule destroys up to 100 000 ozone molecules. Methyl bromide is used for agriculture, and halons are used to put out fires; these two chemicals have similar ozone depleting effects. The problem is not finding new techmologies to eliminate these chemicals, but to use these new technologies for ozone restoration. The population has a difficulty adapting these technologies, because despite its good purpose, it is more expensive than the harmful chemicals that are currently being used. In some countries like Canada and the United States, CFCs are banned but are still being purchased through the black market, which continually keeps destroying this important layer that protect us from deadly ultra violet rays.
