Saving the Ozone Layer: Every Action Counts

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Estimated maximum seasonal increases in erythema induction and DNA damage (relative to 1960) Northern Hemisphere in winter/spring Northern Hemisphere in summer/autumn Southern Hemisphere in all seasons erythema induction 15–17% 8–9% 15% DNA damage 29–32% 12–15% 25% UNEP Environmental Effects of Ozone Depletion: 1994 Discussion points - What chemical characteristics do ozone-depleting substances have in common? - How are ozone-depleting substances used in your country? Identify uses of CFCs or halons and products that are produced using these substances: in the home, at work and in different industries. - What are the trends in ozone levels in your region? - What are local UV-B levels? Is anyone making continuous measurements of UV-B in your country? How is, or could, this information be used? - How large are your country’s emissions of different ozone-depleting substances? - What is the level of knowledge about ozone depletion among different groups of people in your country? Are there any common misunderstandings? - Ozone depletion and climate change. What activities contribute to both? What environmental policies could take both problems into account? ■ 18 ■ Saving the Ozone Layer: Every Action Counts
3 The effects of increased ultraviolet radiation Entry and exit times in the video: 01:52–05:10 How does UV radiation affect human skin? One of the most obvious effects of UV-B radiation is sunburn, known technically as erythema. Dark-skinned people are protected from most of this effect by pigment in their skin cells. UV-B can also damage the genetic material in skin cells, which can cause cancers. For fair-skinned people, life-long exposure to high levels of UV-B increases the risk of non-melanoma skin cancers. Researchers have suggested that these kinds of skin cancers are likely to increase by 2 per cent for each 1 per cent decrease of stratospheric ozone. There is also some evidence that increased exposure to UV-B, especially in childhood, can increase the risk of developing more dangerous melanoma skin cancers. How does UV radiation affect the eye? In humans, exposure to UV-B from unusual directions can cause snow blindness—actinic keratitis—a painful acute inflammation of the cornea. Chronic exposure can also damage the eye. Enhanced levels of UV-B radiation can cause cataracts UV-B could lead to more people suffering from cataracts—a clouding of the lens that impairs vision. Cataracts are a leading cause of blindness, even though they can be effectively treated through surgery in regions well provided with medical care. Health Council of Netherlands report: 1994 How does UV radiation affect the body’s defences against disease? Exposure to UV-B can suppress immune responses in humans and animals. Increased UV-B could therefore reduce human resistance to a number of diseases, including cancers, allergies and some infectious ■ 19 ■ Saving the Ozone Layer: Every Action Counts
Page 1 and 2: Saving the Ozone Layer: Every Actio
Page 3 and 4: Saving the Ozone Layer: Every Actio
Page 5 and 6: Contents ■ Introduction . . . . .
Page 7 and 8: It presents background information
Page 9 and 10: Why is the ozone layer important fo
Page 11 and 12: 2 The threat to the ozone layer fro
Page 13 and 14: in the manufacture of flexible foam
Page 15 and 16: How fast is the ozone layer being d
Page 17 and 18: ecame public knowledge in 1985—an
Page 19: How are UV radiation levels changin
Page 23 and 24: What are the effects on marine and
Page 25 and 26: depleting substances (ODS), known i
Page 27 and 28: World production of CFCs 11 and 12
Page 29 and 30: ozone-benign technologies could ben
Page 31 and 32: of ODS emissions mean that developi
Page 33 and 34: countries in the preparation of cou
Page 35 and 36: 3. The effects of increased ultravi
Page 37 and 38: Country programme A national strate
Page 39 and 40: Ozone layer A thinly scattered laye
Page 41 and 42: UNEP Further information available
Page 43 and 44: * Report of the UNEP Technical Opti
Page 45 and 46: The Video Script The script to Savi
Page 47 and 48: [04:52] The future could look this
Page 49 and 50: [10:43] Every country, company and
Page 52: UNEP OzonAction Programme United Na

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