We all live on earth under the rays of the warm sun, but do we all know about the effects of these rays on the human body?
All life on Earth directly depends on the energy of the Sun. It is ultraviolet and infrared radiation that are the source of this invaluable energy. However, the effect of ultraviolet radiation on living organisms often leads to the inevitable violation of the structures of nucleic acids and proteins, and, as a result, leads to cell death.
Nature itself has created reliable protection - the ozone layer of the Earth, which serves as a barrier to harmful ultraviolet rays. In the air, at an altitude of 20-50 km, a huge amount of ozone is contained, which creates a kind of shield that protects the entire biosphere and humanity.
The human body can defend itself through the synthesis of dark pigment (melanin), which we call nothing more than a tan. But at the same time, in the spring, when the skin contains a small amount of melanin, a person can not stay in the sun for a long time: the skin can redden quickly, and after a few hours the general body temperature may rise and a headache may appear.
Everyone has long known that scientists are observing the methodical destruction of the ozone layer. In the atmosphere, the ozone content decreased significantly, moreover, the so-called “hole” was discovered, which is located above Antarctica. Unfortunately, the area of this hole is increasing every year, and today its area exceeds the size of Antarctica itself.
The destruction of the ozone layer does not pass unnoticed by humanity, for example, in countries that are in close proximity to the mainland, an increase in diseases is observed. These are mainly diseases associated with increased UV background, such as cataracts, skin cancer, etc.
Scientists from the northern hemisphere also observe a decrease in ozone in the atmosphere and report the occurrence of an ozone “hole” over Svalbard.
What threatens the destruction of the ozone layer of the Earth? The consequences can be most terrifying, in the first place, this is reflected in the harvest, which is greatly reduced. Further mutations of plants and animals, as well as the growth of diseases are observed. It is scary to think that the ozone layer may disappear altogether, because this inevitably can lead to the death of fauna and flora.
The main causes of the destruction of the ozone layer lurk in human activities. In an effort to ensure his comfortable existence, a person creates and uses various industrial technologies. All kinds of aerosol sprays that contain freons (chlorofluoromethanes) are safe for humans, but they remain in the atmosphere for more than 70 years.
The fact is that the atmosphere accumulates substances that lead to the destruction of ozone. The activities of the chemical industry greatly contribute to the ingress of such substances into the air. First of all, the destruction of the ozone layer occurs under the influence of chlorine, one atom of which decomposes 100 thousand ozone molecules.
Contributes to the destruction of our "shield" and military activities. Ballistic rocket engines used by the military emit a huge amount of harmful nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere . Each launch of one such rocket into space forms a huge "hole" in the ozone layer. After only a few hours, such a “hole” is delayed.
Back in the 70s, the US military scattered chemicals in the stratosphere over the distant and uninhabited island, which contributed to the formation of a “hole”, which only lasted many hours later. The destruction of the ozone layer over the island led to the fact that a significant part of the land's inhabitants of the island was simply destroyed. Animals, plants, microorganisms - all died. Only a few large turtles that survived thanks to the thick bone shell could survive. However, these turtles were blinded because the retina was burned with ultraviolet light.