Question

How depletion of the ozone layer affect living organisms?

Answer 1

• The thinning of the ozone layer results in an increase in the levels of UV radiation reaching the earth’s surface. In humans, increased UV radiation causes ageing of the skin, damage/injuries to skin cells and skin cancers including melanoma.
• It also causes cataracts and even permanent damage to the cornea, weakening of immune system. UV radiation also causes mutations in living organisms.
• DNA and proteins of living cells absorb the UV rays, and high energy of UV radiation breaks the chemical bonds of these molecules, thus affecting normal metabolism.
• UV radiation inhibits photosynthesis in most phytoplanktons as it penetrates through the ocean water. This affects the entire food chain in the aquatic ecosystem.