What Are the Pollutants That Destroy the Ozone Layer?

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons and nitrous oxide all destroy the ozone, a protective layer made of gas that serves as a filter for ultraviolet light radiation from the sun. CFCs and halons contain ozone-depleting gases. When the ozone is depleted, unsafe levels of ultraviolet light cause skin cancer and destroy crops. Plankton, which the entire food chain depends upon, is killed.

Chloroflurorocarbons

• The production of certain elements produce dangerous gases that deplete the ozone layer.

  CFCs are chemicals that contain carbon, fluorine and chlorine and that produce gases and liquids. Examples are insecticides, solvents and gasoline used in motor vehicles. Aerosols, such as hair spray, and coolants in refrigerators and freezers also used to contain CFCs. Production of CFCs was phased out per the Montreal Protocol, an international treaty, but CFCs from decades of production and use still remain in the atmosphere.

Halons

• Fire extinguishers contain halons.

  Halons are chemicals that contain bromine. These are contained in fire extinguishers. Halons cause three to ten times more ozone pollution than CFCs. The government controls halon production and is phased it out. Fire-prevention tools, such as smoke detectors and sprinkler systems, can reduce the need to use fire extinguishers. Halon production has also been phased out per the Montreal Protocol.

Effects of Fossil Fuels on Ozone Depletion

• Fossil fuel production creates dangerous emissions to the environment.

  Fossil fuels -- coal, oil, and natural gas -- are our chief source of energy. The long-term effects of burning fossil fuels for power are dangerous. Burning fossil fuels for energy releases nitrous oxide, which thins the ozone layer. A 2009 study conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found that nitrous oxide is now the greatest human cause of ozone depletion.

The Future of the Ozone Layer

• Plankton is important for the preservation of the food chain.

  The ozone layer is in critical condition. Even at this point, reversing the damage done will be difficult, if not impossible. Changing habits, embracing sources of energy that do not emit greenhouse gases and ensuring that plankton survives to preserve the food chain are all paths to the crucial preservation of the ozone layer. The Montreal Protocol is a promising step towards restoring the ozone layer. The treaty is cautiously expected to result in an ozone layer that is restored to its 1970s levels by 2050.