There is a group of synthetic chemicals, known as chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's), which are used in air-conditioners, fridges etc. CFC's are slightly lighter than air, and they rise slowly. It takes up to 10 years for CFC's to travel from the earth's surface to the stratosphere, where the ozone is located. In the stratosphere, a chlorine atom from CFC's strips an oxygen atom from the molecule, which begins a destructive catalytic process which destroys the ozone and could last up to 100 years or more in duration.
The ozone layer, as a result of the release of CFC's, used in refrigerators, air-conditioners, cooling centers, cold storage, has developed a hole which is getting bigger and bigger. Loss of ozone caused by the use of CFC's will result in increased levels of solar ultraviolet radiation reaching the surface of the earth. Needless to say that ozone is essential to life because it shields the Earth from the damaging, even lethal, ultraviolet radiation emitted by the sun.
The term 'ozone layer' generally refers to a relatively high concentration of ozone in the stratosphere, a layer of very dry, air around 15 to 35 kilometers (9 to 22 miles) above the earth's surface. However, about 10 per cent of the total ozone is found in the atmosphere, the lowest portion of the atmosphere. The troposphere contains 90 per cent of the atmosphere and nearly all the atmosphere's water vapor. Storms form in the atmosphere and usually stay there. But the tops of especially powerful thunderstorms occasionally poke into the lower atmosphere. The tropopause, the border between the troposphere and the stratosphere, ranges from around 10 to 15 kilometers above the surface. The heat of summer increases the height of the tropopause: the height is reduced in winter. Other things being equal, when the tropopause is low, the amount of stratospheric ozone is high and vice versa.
It may be pointed out that the developed countries produce nearly 90 per cent of world's ozone-depleting chemicals. There are reasons for joint action to protect the ozone layer. The reasons are given as under:
(i)The effects of depletion of ozone layer can be either global or local and are commonly shared among us all.
(ii) Depletion of ozone layer is a direct result of human activity -anthropometric (?) (man's relation to them environment).
(iii) The problem is unique in terms of human response. A situation exists whereby we must react and cooperate
Before we even know the end results of the effects.
(iv) Depletion of the ozone layer is an illustration of the problem of early detection.
(v)The lessons learned from the depletion of the ozone layer could be useful when applied to other environmental problems.
International treaties are beginning to arise for the protection of the ozone layer.
What transpires from the foregoing presentation is that CFC's are the hated chemicals in the world, which have already damaged the ozone layer and the hole would become bigger over time. The answer lies in discovering new technology to make CFC's substitutes available, but it is feared that the developed countries would not provide the technology to the developing countries, which most of them possess the technology of manufacturing CFC's. The developing countries must be allowed free access to the technology for manufacturing CFC's substitutes. At the same time, some financial assistance should be given to them to switchover to the manufacture of CFC's substitutes.
There is no escape from the use of CFC's. However, certain preventive measures can be adopted. The use of pipes should be of standard quality to prevent any leakage of gas. The mechanics should be educated to take maximum precaution in gas-filling of air-conditioners, fridges, etc. The gas is used in cinema, multistory, chiller plants, and leakage of gas should be prevented as far as possible. It would not only ensure optimum utilization of CFC's in the aforesaid plants but also avoid their leakage, which is harmful as it causes holes in the ozone layer. The real solution lies in phasing out CFC's and finally replacing them with their newly discovered substitutes.
It is now realized that with rapid economic development, the quality of life may deteriorate. Rapid industrialization leads to industrial agents, toxic wastes which adversely affect human health and the environment. Developing countries in a bid to have economic prosperity are permitting the destruction of their environment. They are after achieving material plenty around poisoned air, polluted water and mountains of solid wastes.
Increasing use of automobiles has added to pollution. It has polluted the atmosphere, which causes a number of respiratory diseases like asthma, bronchitis, lung cancer and emphysema. Cities suffer from polluted air, which is a hazard to life. Automobiles can thus be described as a great polluter and a killer. The population of automobiles is likely to increase in the future, thereby creating more hazards to human life. One frequently comes across traffic jams in cities which continue for quite some time. Most of the automobiles emit out smoke, which is a pollutant of the air. It, however, necessitates a switchover from internal combustion engine to some electric, steam, hybrid gasoline natural gas powered engine. Again the developed countries with advanced technology may come up with new engine ensuring reliability, safety, good performance, and that too at minimum cost.
Noise is another form of pollution which is as dangerous as the atmospheric pollution. It is believed that noise affects human nervous system apart from adversely affecting the digestive system. Noise pollution creates many psychological effects. The high noise pitched horn of buses, trucks, cars can create outbursts of anger among the neurotic persons. It is men, women frequently exposed to noise, who are inclined to indulge in irrational behavior. Noise pollution affects often develop a temperament of bellicosity. High divorce rate, social conflicts, nervous break-downs, among other factors, can partially be attributed to the noise pollution.
Industrial effluents, toxic wastes when drained to streams and rivers, can cause damaging effects to the fish and other water creatures. The pollution of rivers and streams is a great danger to human health. The leather tanneries in Lahore and Sialkot are playing havoc with human health. Lahore Tanneries Pollution Control Project has been started by the government. The project aims at providing facilities for evacuation of the stagnant polls of waste water, collective treatment plant, effluent disposal and solid waste management systems and in-house pollution control methods in tanneries. One wishes the project were completed according to the time schedule. Industrialization can give rise to grave hazards to human health, which need to be overcome.
Besides urban pollution, there is deforestation. A large tract of land is being denuded of forests every year. That is done in the name of meeting industrial needs. Lush green hills are losing forestation, and the deforestation has brought many calamities in its wake. One may call it a crime against nature.
The need of the time is to adopt interdisciplinary approach through the collaboration of economists and ecologists. There is no doubt about the fact that industrialization has brought about a degeneration in the environment. Economic development cannot be postponed, as it is rather difficult to hold out the process of modernization in developing countries. Economic growth is not wanted for its own sake, but for the sake of raising the incomes of the people and increasing job opportunities in the developing countries. Economic growth cannot be halted. The ecologists argue that the plundering of nature in the name of economic development must stop, as it amounts to destroying the life-support system. The question to answer is: Can economic development and ecological health go hand in hand? Is it advisable to sacrifice the life-support system at the altar of economic development? A priority needs to be assigned to environmental protection and resource conservation. Now there is a growing awareness in Pakistan regarding environmental pollution.
You must be logged in to post a comment.