How Does Ozone Depletion Impact Human Health?
You’ve likely heard a lot in the news and in science courses about ozone depletion and the effects that it is and will have on the Earth. But how does ozone depletion impact human health?
How Does Ozone Depletion Impact Human Health?
Depletion of the ozone layer has a number of consequences for humans, animals, and plants. The short answer is that less ozone will mean more UV rays will reach the Earth which could have disastrous effects for everything that lives on it.
When the sun is visible over a part of the Earth, energy is sent to the planet’s surface. These rays are emitted in different wavelengths. The light that humans are able to see is called visible light. Other types of rays are called infra-red, which is felt as heat, and ultraviolet, which humans cannot see or feel. Ultraviolet rays, or UV rays, also have different wavelengths. The shorter the wave is, the stronger and more damaging that it is. UV rays are measured in nanometers.
There Are Three Different Types of UV Rays
Ultraviolet A Rays
The longest UV rays are UVA rays. UVA rays regularly reach the Earth and generate vitamin D for living things.
Ultraviolet B Rays
UVB rays are shorter than UVA rays, are more damaging to humans and plants. Some UVB rays are filtered by the ozone layer. What reaches the Earth causes sunburns and damages cells and DNA. This is also the cause of skin cancer and cataracts, a clouding of the eye’s lens.
Ultraviolet C Rays
UVB are the most dangerous of ultraviolet rays as they are the shortest. However, they are typically absorbed by the ozone.
Knowing the differences between these waves and how they affect human and plant cells are important to understand how the depletion of the ozone layer will affect humans.
Reduced ozone and ozone depletion means that the Earth will have less protection from the sun’s rays and will be exposed to more radiation from UVB rays. That means the depletion of the ozone layer will increase the amount of UVB rays that reach the Earth’s surface.
Research has shown that high levels of UV rays, specifically UVB rays, can cause skin cancer. They also play a major role in the development of malignant melanoma.In addition to skin cancer and cataracts, UV rays can also cause other skin-related issues.
Sometimes, sunlight can cause skin growths to appear on the body in the form of lesions. This is called actinic keratoses.
Prolonged exposure to sunlight can also cause the skin to thicken, wrinkle, and become leathery. This is typically a slower process and sometimes is seen as something that is unavoidable and a normal part of aging. However, 90 percent of skin damage attributed to aging is actually caused by the sun.
Additionally, UV rays may prevent the body’s immune system from properly fighting diseases and infections.
Because all sunlight contains UVB rays, it is important to wear sunglasses and sunscreen that provide UV protection to lessen the effect that UVB rays have on your skin and your eyes.
Bottom Line
So, how does ozone depletion impact human health? As seen above, lessened ozone has a number of effects on the human body. Therefore, it’s important to take the necessary precautions to protect yourself with UV rays.
