Biology

All of these topics pose a significant threat to the Earth, although, for this assignment, I have decided to discuss ozone depletion. After reading further on the subject, I have learned that ozone can be both good and bad.

Ozone that is good resides in the extremities of the Earth in the stratosphere. This ozone, often referred to as the ozone layer, is a layer that forms a barrier or shields the Earth from the sun and its harmful rays. This is necessary to prevent the extreme heating on the Earth’s surface. If we did not have an ozone layer to protect us from the sun, it would be far too hot to have most forms of life on Earth. However, the ozone layer is depleting due to harmful gases, which are unfortunately due to humans. Certain gases create hole-like effects on the ozone layer. Consequently, the Earth becomes warmer and warmer each year creating even larger problems for all life on Earth.

The bad ozone resides near the surface of the Earth where most life forms are in constant contact with. This ozone is created due to harmful gases mostly caused by motor vehicles, gasoline vapors, chemical solvents, industrial facilities, and electric utilities. These harmful gases pose threats to the health of humans. When breathing in the polluted air it could cause health risks like congestion, asthma, emphysema, and other respiratory factors. Since most of the causes for the production of the bad ozone are due to motor vehicles and factories the areas that are influenced the most are major cities since they have the most volume of people occupying them. However, those in rural areas are affected as well due to the wind carrying this harmful pollution.