WORLD Ozone Day is finally here! Observed annually on September 16, it brings attention to the critical role of the ozone layer and actions taken to protect it. The theme for this year is “32 Years and Healing,” celebrating over three decades of remarkable international cooperation to protect the Ozone Layer and the climate under the Montreal Protocol. It reminds us that we must keep up the momentum to ensure healthy people and a healthy planet.

What is the Ozone Layer and where it is located?
The Ozone Layer or the Ozone Shield refers to a region of Earth’s stratosphere that shields us from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. It contains high concentrations of ozone (O3) relative to other parts of the atmosphere, although it is still very small relative to other gases in the stratosphere. The ozone layer is mainly found in the lower portion of the stratosphere, from approximately 20 to 30 kilometres above Earth, though the thickness varies seasonally and geographically. The ozone layer protects all life on earth from UV radiation which can cause severe damage to plants, animals, microbes and people.

Serious Effects of Ozone Depletion
?      Damage to human health- If the ozone layer is depleted, it means humans will be overly exposed to strong UV radiation. Overexposure to strong UV light causes skin cancer, cataracts, sunburns, weakening of the immune system and quick aging.
?      Devastation to environment-Many crop species are vulnerable to strong UV light and overexposure may well lead to minimal growth, photosynthesis and flowering. Some of the crop species vulnerable to UV light include barley, wheat, corn, oats, rice, broccoli, tomatoes, and cauliflower, just to name a few. Forests equally bear the brunt of ozone depletion.

?      Threat to marine life- Certain marine life, especially planktons, are greatly impacted by exposure to strong ultraviolet rays. In the aquatic food chain, planktons appear high up. If planktons decrease in number due to ozone layer destruction, the marine food chain would be disrupted in many ways. Also, overexposure of sun rays could reduce the fortunes of fishers. On top of that, certain species of marine life have been greatly affected by overexposure to ultraviolet radiation at their early stage.
?      Effects on animals-In domesticated animals, too much Ultraviolet radiation could also lead to skin and eye cancer.
?      Impacts certain materials-Materials like plastics, wood, fabrics, rubber are massively degraded by too much ultraviolet radiation

32 Years and Healing
This year’s theme celebrates over three decades of remarkable international cooperation to protect the ozone layer and the climate under the Montreal Protocol. It reminds us that we must keep up the momentum to ensure healthy people and a healthy planet. The Montreal Protocol has led to the phase-out of 99 percent of ozone-depleting chemicals in refrigerators, air-conditioners and many other products.
At projected rates, Northern Hemisphere and mid-latitude ozone will heal completely by the 2030s. The Southern Hemisphere will follow in the 2050s and Polar Regions by 2060. Ozone layer protection efforts have also contributed to the fight against climate change by averting an estimated 135 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions, from 1990 to 2010.

Solution to Ozone Depletion 
?      Desist from using pesticides- Pesticides are great chemicals to rid your farm of pests and weeds, but they contribute enormously to ozone layer depletion. The surefire solution to get rid of pests and weeds is to apply natural methods. Just weed your farm manually and use alternative eco- friendly chemicals to alleviate pests.
?      Discourage driving of private vehicles- The easiest technique to minimize ozone depletion is to limit the number of vehicles on the road. These vehicles emit a lot of greenhouse gases that eventually form smog, a catalyst in the depletion of the ozone layer.
?      Utilise environmentally friendly cleaning products- Most household cleaning products are loaded with harsh chemicals that find their way to the atmosphere, eventually contributing to the degradation of the ozone layer. Use natural and environmentally friendly cleaning products to arrest this situation.
?      Prohibit the use of harmful nitrous oxide- The Montreal Protocol formed in 1989 helped a lot in the limitation of Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). However, the protocol never covered nitrous oxide, which is a known harmful chemical that can destroy the ozone layer. Nitrous oxide is still in use today. Governments must take action now and outlaw nitrous oxi use to reduce the rate of ozone depletion.
Let us continue to work and heal together!

References:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/ozone-depletion/
https://www.epa.gov/ozone-layer-protection/health-and-environmental-effects-ozone-layer-depletion
https://www.un.org/en/events/ozoneday/
https://ozone.unep.org/ozone-day/32-years-and-healing

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