Current studies indicate that ultraviolet rays could be disastrous to the marine eco-system. High UV concentration causes phytoplankton, microscopic organisms at the base of the food chain, to decrease their reproductive activity. Although there is no serious widespread effect now, the problem may escalate in future years.
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Numerous studies have proven that ultraviolet radiation, in both the UV-A and UV-B forms, causes skin cancer. Of the three types of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma, 90 percent of all cases can be attributed to overexposure to UV rays. Other effects of increased ultraviolet exposure, including sterility and cataracts, are currently under investigation.
Ultraviolet radiation has effects on plants as well, though different species react in different manners. In a recent study of 200 plants, one variety of soybean plant showed a 25 percent reduction in growth when exposed to large amounts of UV rays. However, other types of soybean in the same study were not affected. It is estimated that a reduction in ozone level as little as 10 percent could seriously damage the world�s agricultural production.
The ozone layer is a complex problem since the atmosphere is constantly shifting and diffusing. Many quick-fix theories exist, such as flying planes filled with ethane and propane over the Antarctic region. When the planes release the gasses, they would react with the harmful chlorine compounds and reduce their destructive power. However, the environmental effects could be devastating and it would be a complex and costly project.
Another radical approach to CFC elimination is the use of lasers. Thomas Stix, a Princeton University physics professor says that lasers tuned to the right frequency can break CFC�s apart without affecting other atmospheric gasses. The disadvantage is the cost, which would be roughly 10 billion dollars a year in electricity.
With ozone cleaning proposals being submitted and rejected on a daily cycle, many environmentalists believe that the earth will repair itself if CFC production comes to a halt. A number of CFC alternatives have been discovered, some of them are still under scrutiny for suspected ozone-damaging qualities.