Our Environment | Activities in Text Book with Solution
Activity 15.4
Find out from the library, internet or newspaper reports, which chemicals are responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer.
Find out if the regulations put in place to control the emission of these chemicals have succeeded in reducing the damage to the ozone layer. Has the size of the hole in the ozone layer changed in recent years?
✅ Answer:
In 1980s, the amount of
ozone began to drop sharply. It was due to chemicals like chlorofluorocarbons
(CFCs) which are used as refrigerants and in fire extinguishers.
In 1987, the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) made an agreement to freeze CFC
production at 1986 level. It is now mandatory to make CFC-free refrigerators.
Other
ozone depleting substances: Hydrofluorocarbons
(HFCs), halons etc.
The size of the ozone hole
has reduced in recent years.