Human Health
The ozone layer acts as our planet’s sunscreen, providing a filter to help protect all life forms from the Sun’s damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays. Any significant decrease in the amount of ozone high up in the atmosphere would result in an increase in the amount of UV rays reaching the Earth’s surface. This in turn would lead to an increase in health problems for humans.
The most widely know effect of UV radiation is the reddening of the skin in sunshine, called sunburn. Exposure to strong sunlight over many years can lead to skin cancer, particularly in fair skinned people. Any damage to the ozone layer will very likely increase the rate of skin cancer amongst people.
UV rays can also be damaging to our eyes, and an increase in the amount of UV rays reaching the Earth would lead to an increase in eye disorders. Cataracts and blindness are the most common eye diseases associated with ozone loss. The eyes are much more sensitive than the skin, and a 1% decrease in ozone may result in 100,000 to 150,000 additional cases of blindness due to eye cataracts worldwide.
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