Since everybody knows more or less what Ozone Layer is and what purpose does it serve, I m not going to elaborate on that. Yet, what I m going to elaborate is the ozone layer depletion created by human products and human beings.

In short, Ozone Layer is protecting us from UV radiation, that is up in the straphosphere.

Ozone depletion is mainly caused by O.D.Ss ( Ozone Depleting Substances ) that climb up and destroy the ozone. The most popular one is C.O.Cs ( Cloro Ozone Carbons ) that can be found in parfumes, sprays, refrigirators, foams in installation etc.. . etc… ) Their effects and durability is very long lasting.

O.D.S’s penetrate the layer, but what are the consequences?

There are three main consequences

-          On human health ( skin cancer, eye cataract, deficiencies of immune system )

-          Environment-double impact ( on crucial fragile eco system in antartic ocean )

-          Effecting the procreation system of species

How ozone layer depletion and its upcoming danger was discovered?

Science played a huge role in discovering the effects of O.D.S’s which engaged the epistemic community in debate. The threat was discovered by meteorologists and pole studiers, actually there are three names well recognized in the discovery of Ozone Layer Depletion and warned us of its threats, which are Sherwood Rowland, Paul Crutzen and Mario Molina, which also won the Nobel prize in chemistry in 1995.

After the discovery, a substitute policy started, which US and US companies triggered and encouraged to be implemented, yet some European chemical companies opposed out of their interest. This initiative of US also poked their image as the ‘ big bad boy of environment ‘ and increased their reputation in environmental field. In 1981 Multilateral negotiations on the issue took place . It took 4 years to agree in the Vienna convention, which came up with 4 general goals

1-      Protect human health and environment

2-      Adapt joint measures

3-      Join in scientific research efforts

4-      Set up a system of info sharing on these issues.

Which resulted in

-          A secretariat held under UNEP

-          COP ( Conference of Parties ) created

-          Commities on finances and planning has been established

-          Assesment boards on science and implamantation has been created.

After these implementation, almost all the products ( there were exceptions in health products ) were O.D.S free. So the things we are using now ( parfumes, sprays etc… ) aren’t a danger for the ozone layer anymore. And it is quite remarkable how quick the usage of O.D.S dropped in such a short notice. Yet, as in many environmental issues, when you stop doing something, the problem doesn’t just fade away, because as it happened in long term, it also takes a long term to be fixed. So even though nothing is being used now to damage the ozone layer, we still have to wait a bit more till the ozone recovers completely, mostly between 2030 to 2070.