Ozone Depletion and E-Waste
Published on Apr 22, 2016
This is a slideshow all about how the ozone flipped-turned upside down. And I'd like to take a minute, just sit right there. I'll tell you about ozone depletion in the air. And e-waste.
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Ozone Depletion and E-Waste
by Karissa Korman
This is a slideshow all about how the ozone flipped-turned upside down. And I'd like to take a minute, just sit right there. I'll tell you about ozone depletion in the air.
Ozone depletion is the destruction of the ozone in our atmosphere.
Ozone exists in Earth's atmosphere and protects the planet from excessive sun exposure and extremely harmful Ultra Violet rays. Without the ozone layer protecting Earth from these UV rays, life on the planet would not exist as we know it today.
The ozone layer protects Earth from the sun's harmful UV rays.
Ozone depletion comes as a result of pollution and the emission of greenhouse gases. As the ozone layer thins, sun exposure increases and global temperatures rise.
As UV exposure increases, global temperatures increase.
As the ozone layer thins, sun exposure increases and global temperatures rise.
The poles are most affected by the global warming, leading to the melting of the polar icecaps.
Despite climate changes occurring throughout the globe, the North and South poles- namely the South- experience the worst of the effects. Massive polar icecaps begin to melt, leaving polar bears and other arctic life stranded, all the while increasing ocean levels to a dangerous height.
Plant and animal development, health and food webs are all affected negatively due to varying UV levels.
Varying UV levels disrupt the physiological and developmental processes of both plants and animals. Such a reserve upsets natural environmental food webs.
Humans can suffer from
sun cancer, premature aging of skin, cataracts and risk severe damage to the eye.
For humans, UV radiation causes premature aging of skin, sunburns, skin cancer and damage to the retina, cornea and conjunctiva of the eye. Unless ozone depletion is halted, a further 10% depletion in the layer is predicted to cause over two million new cases of cataracts, globally.
Joe Farman, Brian Gardiner and Jonathan Shankin introduced the public to the concept of ozone depletion in 1985.
Joe Farman, Brian Gardiner and Jonathan Shankin released news of ozone depletion in a 1985 circulating paper.
Ozone depletion is a result of pollution and the release of greenhouse gases.
In short, ozone depletion is caused by pollution.
Industrialized countries like the United States and China remain the worst offenders.
Countries like the United States, Brazil, China and India remain the worst offenders, increasing the amount of air pollution, over fishing, mass fertilization and deforestation.
American fuel company
ExxonMobil allegedly hid critical information that proved fossil fuels increased global warming.
Multinational fuel company ExxonMobil allegedly hid research that verified that fossil fuels play a responsive role in global warming.
E-waste is the unethical disposal of electronic devices.
E-waste comes from first world countries like the United States, but is dumped and forgotten in developing nations.
Landfills of e-waste form. Mass pollution comes with the sitting digital dumping grounds.
The atmosphere, earth and people all suffer from e-waste landfills.
In several digital dumping grounds, children are left to make a living off of scavenging through these trashed devices.
But computers aren't the only forms of trashed technology.
Miles of the Mojave Desert are used as a graveyard for old or outdated airplanes.
Some have found ways to reuse and recycle old planes, cars and appliances.
For example, the Hostel Costa Verde on the Costa Rican coast remodeled a plane to be used as a suite.
Organizations like the Basel Convention have formed and introduced bans on e-waste exporting.
Groups like the World Nature Organization have dedicated themselves to treating and preventing ozone depletion.
Several independent and government organizations have formed, like the Environmental Defense Fund and World Nature Organization, working to halt the thinning of the ozone layer and treat the effects it has thus far inflicted upon the Earth.
Individuals can limit their amount of private vehicle driving, use Eco-friendly cleaning products and use clean energy alternatives to save the ozone layer.
Environmental organizations have introduced a limit private vehicle driving, Eco-friendly cleaning products, cut on carbon pollution, clean energy alternatives, a ban on the use of nitrous oxide and a stop the use of aerosol sprays.
We can reduce, reuse and recycle our electronic devices to avoid e-waste and digital dumping grounds.
Alone, pollution of the earth and sky remains a formidable opponent. But together, we can create healthier tomorrow.
To treat the existing consequences of the current ozone depletion, medical advancements have been made for people with skin cancer and eye cataracts as a result of increased sun exposure. Though nothing can be done to refreeze the polar icecaps, wildlife protection organizations and individuals, like Bill McKibben, continue working to provide food and shelter for the animals left stranded and to increase public awareness of the seriousness of ozone depletion.
