One of the everyday activities that we indulge in is the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) that damage the environment especially the ozone layer that protects us from the harmful effects of the cosmic rays emitted by the sun and other celestial bodies and maintains the radioactive balance of the atmosphere. CFCs are used in a variety of ways such as refrigerants, coolants, insulants propellants in aerosol sprays cleaning agents etc.
Ozone (O3) is a blue gas that is very unstable and lies roughly 10 to 50 Kms. above the earths atmosphere with a maximum concentration between 20 to 25 Kms and is a very unstable form of oxygen and is split up into free oxygen (O) and O2 (the Oxygen that we breathe) when ultraviolet (UV) radiation hits its molecules. The energy of the UV radiation, on the splitting of the ozone molecule is converted into harmless heat and never reaches the earth. The O and the O2 recombine into new molecules of ozone (O3).
The CFCs that we release can remain as CFCs for up to a hundred years. As it is, it is harmless but the trouble starts when it slowly drifts upwards to the ozone layer where it is split apart by the UV radiation into molecules of chlorine etc. This chlorine combines with the free O in the ozone layer forming chlorine monoxide; thus effectively stopping the reformation of the ozone molecules depleting the already scarce ozone, causing a hole in the ozone layer.
The resulting passing of UV radiation into the atmosphere reaches the earth causing increase in eye cataract, skin cancer and other harmful effects to both flora and fauna of the earth.
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