CFC's
are well known for their potential to destroy the Ozone layer.
The
ozone layer is a layer of ozone molecules (O3) which projects the
earth from harmful UV-B Radiation from the sun. UV-B exposure can
damage plant life, single cell organisms, and aquatic ecosystems.
Human exposure to UV-B can increase the risk of skin cancer,
cataracts, and a suppressed immune system. The ozone layer is not
year round, but rather appears annually-lasting between August and
December. In recent years, it has been recorded to have lasted an
increased amount of time.
Chlorofluorocarbons
(CFC's), chlorine, and bromine-containing compounds, are key
promoters to the depletion of ozone in the Earth's stratosphere. They
do this by means of Catalytic destruction-which removes the odd
oxygen species ( atomic oxygen O and ozone O3) while
leaving chlorine unaffected. CFC's are used in a variety of
industrial, commercial, and household applications. Due to the
Montreal Protocol (see Global Initiatives), and general knowledge of
the ozone problem, CFC's and other leading ozone depleaters are being
phased out. Unfortunately some countries still use CFC's unchecked.
Hydroflourocarbons
(HFC's) have, for the most part, replaced CFC's in industrial and
commercial uses. It has been studied and measured that, while HFC's
are still ozone depleaters, it is considered negligible.
Global
monitoring of ozone levels from space is done by the Total Ozone
Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS). More information about the current ozone
hole can be found at: www.theozonehole.com.
Photo-voltaic solar power is based from principles first theorized by Albert Einstein. In fact, it is for his discovery of this, not relativity, which won Einstein the Nobel Prize in 1922.
A video summarizing the problems with the irresponsible dumping of plastics.
