Ozone is a natural gas, 03. This means that three atoms of oxygen are bonded together. In the atmosphere it protects us from ultraviolet radiation. On the ground it helps from smog.

The ozone layer is a region of the atmosphere called the stratosphere, that is about 12 to 30 miles above the Earth’s surface. It contains 03. It is formed by the action of sunlight on oxygen. Without the ozone layer life on Earth could not exist. It protects life from the sun’s cancer-causing ultraviolet radiation. The ozone absorbs most of the ultraviolet light that comes from the sun. Exposure to high levels of ultraviolet light can also lead to blindness, rapid skin aging and a weakened immune system.

There is a problem with the ozone layer. It is disappearing! The first ozone “hole” was located over Antartica, at the south pole.. In 1995 a 45% depletion of the ozone layer was detected over 1/3 of the northern hemisphere, near the north pole. This year (2006), scientists are reporting a larger hole than ever.

Why is the ozone layer disappearing? Pollution is the reason, but a different type of pollution than you usually read about. This pollution comes from CFCs or chlorofluorocarbons. This chemical is used as refrigerants, some plastics and aerosol spray propellants. As these chemicals travel into the ozone layer they are capable of destroying the oxygen molecules for up to 50 years. Twenty-five countries signed the Montreal Protocol agreeing to a 50% reduction of CFCs. The United States banned CFCs and now has stricter laws about the disposal of the chemicals. But much of the damage has already been done.

New Zealand has seen a sharp increase in skin cancers, which is one of the main dangers of the ozone depletion. (It is estimated that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetimes.) New Zealand schools teach about the dangers and many ask students to wear hats while out in the sun. Students there are taught to “Say No to the Sun.”

You should limit your time in the sun between the hours of 10:00 am and 4:00 pm. A good rule to remember is “No shadow, seek shade.” You should apply sunscreen about 20 minutes before going outside. ***Note: Some researchers say that you need at least 10 minutes outside each day without sunscreen. Sunlight reacts with your skin to produce Vitamin D. Sunscreen blocks this production.

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