Study of Environmental Issues Associated with Industrialization

Study of   Environmental Issues Associated with Industrialization


Although our industrial ways seem to be a very progressive step into the
future, there are many flaws to the way many things are today.   Things have
definitely changed over the past century, as we can currently do things much
more efficiently then before.   The cost of this efficiency may seem inexpensive
in many ways, however we do not realize that the cost of these new technologies
do not just include money, time and labour, but it also costs us our well being
as well as the beauty and comfort of our own home, earth.   Ozone depletion,
climate change as well as the direct effects of chemicals from industrial
emissions and fuel combustion are a great threat to our planet and if nothing is
done to resolve this problem soon, the results may be disastrous.
    There is a layer of chemicals twenty kilometers up in the stratosphere
called the ozone layer.   This layer protects the inhabitants of earth by
reflecting much of the suns harmful ultra violet (UV) rays.   Without this layer
above us, many living things including humans could not survive.   The ozone
layer is currently depleting and the reason for this is believed to be caused by
a few things.   Deforestation, fertilizer use and fuel combustion are minor
contributors to this problem while chemicals such as chloroflourocarbons (CFCs),
halons, carbon tetrachloride, methyl chloroform, methyl bromide and
hydrochloroflourocarbons (HCFCs) are the major contributors to the deterioration
of the ozone layer.   These chemicals have industrial halocarbons that break up
into chlorine and bromine in the upper stratosphere when they react with the
sun's rays.   Chlorine eats up the ozone layer while bromine acts as a catalyst
and speeds up the process.   Often found in Antarctica, there are frozen chemical
clouds in the upper stratosphere called polar stratospheric clouds.   These polar
stratospheric clouds destroy the ozone layer at a much faster pace then the... [continues]

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