Clean Air Act Title VI Essay -- Environment Geology

Clean Air Act Title VI An Examination of the Goals, Plans for Implementation, and the Effectiveness at Achieving these Goals Introduction and Background Ozone is a substance which plays a pivotal role in anthropogenic life. Formed by having three oxygen molecules bond together, it becomes a molecule whose formulaic makeup is 03. While contributing to only a small amount of atmospheric makeup, this is a molecule that without which, human life could not survive. Ozone is the one gas which absorbs long wavelength UV radiation (UVB). This radiation has been known to cause skin cancers, increase risk for glaucoma, and damage the immune system. 90% of all ozone is found in the stratosphere, with the other 10% making up tropospheric smog (http://earth1.epa.gov/oar/oaqps/peg_caa/pegcaa06.html). Located between 9 and 31 miles above the Earthà ­s surface, ozone is situated in roughly a sphere-like shape through diffusion across the atmosphere. This sphere is constantly changing in cycles through the natural breakdown and buildup of ozone. Stratospheric ozone depletion did not become a problem until after the 1950à ­s, when CFCs began to be manufactured. These chlorofluorocarbons were found in propellant aerosols, any type of machinery which was required to lower temperature, solvents, fire retardants (halons) and as byproducts of styrofoam production (http://ess.geology.ufl.edu). While CFCs are highly stable molecules in the lower atmosphere, upon entering the upper atmosphere, they encounter UV radiation. This radiation splits the CFC and releases a free-roaming chlorine molecule. The chlorine molecule destroys ozone at an alarming rate, with one catalytic Cl being able to account for the destruction of 100,000 ozone molecules... ...e previous years had shown a general trend of increase in ozone hole size. Now, the effects of the Clean Air Act being realized. Hopefully, through the efforts of the EPA and other groups throughout the world, the problem of stratospheric ozone depletion can be handled and even decreased. But more can be done. While the US has championed the cause towards a better world with ozone, many other countries choose to ignore the dangers of UVB through extensive lobbying by companies that have stakes in the production of CFCs. Without full cooperation from the global community, the problem will never be completely solved, as shown here (http://ess.geology.ufl.edu). If nations follow the lead of the US, utilizing alternative chemicals as propellants and finding new chemicals for air refrigerants, then the problem of stratospheric ozone depletion will be a problem no more.