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This year marks the 35th anniversary of the Vienna Convention and the protection of the ozone layer worldwide. With the COVID-19 pandemic always in mind, it becomes clear once again that we need to work to protect the planet if we are to avoid imbalances that create problems globally.
In the 1980s, there were many commonly used products on the market that contained substances that were very harmful to ozone. The best known are CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) and HCFCs (hydrochlorofluorocarbons).
In 1985 the international community made an effort to end these life-threatening chemicals on Earth. This effort materialized in the Vienna Convention on the Protection of the Ozone Layer.
In 1987, the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was drafted. More than 100 harmful chemicals began to be controlled to eliminate their production and consumption.
The Montreal Protocol has been the most successful international agreement to date, as all timelines for the elimination of these substances have been met, even ahead of schedule in many cases.
A joint international effort has led to the elimination and reduction of the use of these ozone-depleting substances and has now significantly reduced the ultraviolet radiation from the sun that reaches the Earth by protecting human health. and ecosystems
The chemical formula of ozone is O3 . Ozone is mostly found in the upper atmosphere
Ozone in the stratosphere is responsible, among other things, for absorbing much of the sun's ultraviolet radiation that is harmful to life. That is why it is essential to preserve this ozone layer. There is an ozone that is considered harmful and is what is found in excess on the Earth's surface and is harmful to humans.
The ozone layer is a very fragile strip of gas that protects life on the planet from the harmful effects of the sun's rays and is endangered by the use that was made for years of certain chemicals.
Among the substances that alter the ozone layer are chlorine and bromine. These products have had a widespread use so their eradication is a complicated task. They are found in refrigerant gases, aerosol propellants, polyurethane foams, fire extinguishers, fumigants, and so on. used massively from the middle of the s. XX.
Some tips to help protect the ozone layer are:
- Avoid the purchase and consumption of aerosols or sprays with chlorofluorocarbon gases
- Avoid using fire extinguishers that contain halons, a very aggressive substance for the ozone layer.
- Check that the insulating material you buy does not contain (CFC), instead you can use dark agglomerated cork, which fulfills the same function and does not pollute the environment.
- Performs good maintenance of air conditioners, as their malfunction causes CFC leaks into the atmosphere.
- Call a technician if you notice that the freezer is not working properly, as it may leak. The same goes for air conditioning in cars.
- Buy household appliances and low-energy light bulbs. In addition to polluting less, you will save on your electricity bill.
Ozone is expected to fully recover in the northern hemisphere by 2030.
While in the southern hemisphere the full recovery will come in 2050. And ten years later in the polar regions.
