Stratospheric Pollution

Stratospheric Pollution

The upper stratosphere consists of considerable amount of ozone (O₃), which protects us from the harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiations (λ 255nm) coming from the sun. These radiations cause skin cancer (melanoma) in humans. Therefore, it is important to maintain the ozone shield.

Ozone in the stratosphere is a product of UV radiations acting on dioxygen (O₂) molecules. The UV radiations split apart molecular oxygen into free oxygen (O) atoms. These oxygen atoms combine with the molecular oxygen to form ozone.

Ozone is thermodynamically unstable and decomposes to molecular oxygen. Thus, a dynamic equilibrium exists between the production and decomposition of ozone molecules. In recent years, there have been reports of the depletion of this protective ozone layer because of the presence of certain chemicals in the stratosphere. The main reason of ozone layer depletion is believed to be the release of chlorofluorocarbon compounds (CFCs), also known as Freon. These compounds are nonreactive, non flammable, non toxic organic molecules and therefore used in refrigerators, air conditioners.

In the production of plastic foam and by the electronic industry for cleaning computer pars etc. once CFCs are released in the atmosphere, they mix with the normal atmospheric gases and eventually reach the stratosphere. In stratosphere, they get broken down by powerful UV radiations, releasing chlorine free radical.

The chlorine radical then react with stratospheric ozone to form chlorine monoxide radicals and molecular oxygen.

Reaction of chlorine monoxide radical with atomic oxygen produces more chlorine radicals.

The chlorine radicals are continuously regenerated and cause the breakdown of ozone. Thus, CFCs are transporting agents for continuously generating chlorine radicals into the stratosphere and damaging the ozone layer.