Depletion of the Ozone Layer :: essays research papers

Depletion of the Ozone Layer The issue of whether the people of the world have exaggerated the threat of the ozone depletion has been widely debated. It is an important issue because it concerns health and well being now and tomorrow. A variety of different arguments have been put forward about this issue. Because air pollution is greatly affecting the ozone, America needs to take immediate steps to stop ozone depletion. This essay will examine different arguments concerning the ozone layer. Ozone is a highly irritant gas, which is formed in our atmosphere in the presence of sunlight from other air pollutants, including nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons. These "precusor" pollutants, which cause the formation of ozone, are emitted by pollution sources. The adverse health consequences of breathing ozone at levels below the current U.S. National ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) of 120 parts per billion are serious and well documented. Observational epidemiology studies have shown compelling and consistent evidence of adverse effects by ozone below the current standards. Considering the published results from various cities, the EPA analysis under predicts the respiratory hospital admission benefits of their proposed regulations. Airway inflammation in the lung is among the serious effects that have been demonstrated by controlled human studies of the ozone at levels typically experienced by most Americans. Exposures to ozone and particulate matter air pollution have been linked to medically significant adverse health effects. The current NAAQS for these pollutants are not sufficiently protective of public health. Both the ozone and particulate matter standards have vast implications for the equality of life and the economy of the United States. The vast majority of Americans support improving and enhancing the quality of their life by eliminating or decreasing air pollution. Americans are quite willing to shoulder the burden of clean air. The Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S public and Depletion of the Ozone Layer :: essays research papers Depletion of the Ozone Layer The issue of whether the people of the world have exaggerated the threat of the ozone depletion has been widely debated. It is an important issue because it concerns health and well being now and tomorrow. A variety of different arguments have been put forward about this issue. Because air pollution is greatly affecting the ozone, America needs to take immediate steps to stop ozone depletion. This essay will examine different arguments concerning the ozone layer. Ozone is a highly irritant gas, which is formed in our atmosphere in the presence of sunlight from other air pollutants, including nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons. These "precusor" pollutants, which cause the formation of ozone, are emitted by pollution sources. The adverse health consequences of breathing ozone at levels below the current U.S. National ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) of 120 parts per billion are serious and well documented. Observational epidemiology studies have shown compelling and consistent evidence of adverse effects by ozone below the current standards. Considering the published results from various cities, the EPA analysis under predicts the respiratory hospital admission benefits of their proposed regulations. Airway inflammation in the lung is among the serious effects that have been demonstrated by controlled human studies of the ozone at levels typically experienced by most Americans. Exposures to ozone and particulate matter air pollution have been linked to medically significant adverse health effects. The current NAAQS for these pollutants are not sufficiently protective of public health. Both the ozone and particulate matter standards have vast implications for the equality of life and the economy of the United States. The vast majority of Americans support improving and enhancing the quality of their life by eliminating or decreasing air pollution. Americans are quite willing to shoulder the burden of clean air. The Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S public and