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Unit 2

Ecology is the study of inter-relationship of organisms with physical as well as biotic

environments.Organisms and environment are interrelated and interdependent. Any
change in the environment affects the living organisms and vice-versa.

An ecosystem is the structural and functional unit of ecology. It is a community of

living organisms along with the abiotic components interacting together through
energy flows and nutrient cycles.It is important to have an understanding of the
surroundings as the survival of mankind is dependent on it. These terms are often
used interchangeably but they differ in their scope .The continued increase in human
population and intervention, e.g. deforestation, pollution, excess use of natural
resources and pesticides has resulted in the destruction of the natural environment
and has made people aware about the ecology and environment.

Introduction to Ecology
Ecology is the study of interaction among living organisms (plants, animals,
microbes) as well as interaction with its abiotic environment (temperature, water, air,
soil, light, etc.).
According to Odum, who is known as the Father of modern ecology, “Ecology is
the study of structure and function of ecosystems”.
Reiter was the first person to use the term ecology.
Ernst Haeckel was given credit to coin and defined the term “Ecology”.
Ramdeo Misra is known as the Father of ecology in India.

Ecology is divided into two main branches:

● Autecology- deals with an organism or species, its adaptations and
interaction with its environment
● Synecology- deals with the study of different species living in a community
and its relation with the surrounding. It is further divided into aquatic and
terrestrial ecology.
● Aquatic ecology deals with aquatic ecosystems, e.g. freshwater, marine, etc.
● Terrestrial ecology deals with the terrestrial ecosystems, e.g. forest,
grassland, desert, etc.
There are some modern branches of ecology:
Applied Ecology deals with the study of conservations and getting economic
benefits of organisms, e.g. wild-life management, agronomy, etc.
Genecology is the study of genetic composition and variation present in
communities compared to the environment and population distribution and origin of
new species, ecads, ecotypes, etc. System Ecology is the most modern branch of
ecology, which takes advantage of applied mathematics, computer science and
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advanced statistical techniques to understand the structure and function of an
ecosystem.
Some Important concepts of Ecology
Ecological hierarchy follows the below order with an increase in size and complexity
Organism → Species (population) → Biotic community → Ecosystem → Biome →
Biosphere

Ecosystem: it is the functional unit of the ecology. It includes the biotic community
and the interacting physical environment associated with it. Biotic components and
abiotic components constitute an ecosystem.

Importance of ecosystem
● It provides habitat to wild plants and animals.
● It promotes various food chains and food webs.
● It controls essential ecological processes and promotes lives.
● Involved in the recycling of nutrients between biotic and abiotic
components.
● It helps in maintaining the usual flow of energy in an ecosystem
including- Carbon Cycle, Energy Cycle, Nitrogen Cycle, Oxygen
Cycle, and Water Cycle.
● Biogeochemical cycle are maintained by Ecosystem.
● A biome is a major vegetation type extending over a large area.
Biome distributions are determined largely by temperature and
precipitation patterns on the Earth's surface.
● Energy is moved through an ecosystem via a food web, which is
made up of interlocking food chains. Energy is first captured by
photosynthesis (primary production). The amount of primary
production determines the amount of energy available to higher
trophic levels.
● Soil fertility can be maintained by ecosystem.
● Flood and droughts balanced by Ecosystem.

Biotic Components of Ecosystem

The living components of an ecosystem are called the biotic
components. Some of these factors include plants, animals, as well as
fungi and bacteria. These biotic components can be further classified,
based on the energy requirement source. Producers, consumers, and
decomposers are the three broad categories of biotic components.
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• Producers are the plants in the ecosystem, which can generate their
own energy requirement through photosynthesis, in the presence of
sunlight and chlorophyll. All other living beings are dependent on plants
for their energy requirement of food as well as oxygen.
• Consumers include herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores. The are
the living organisms that feed on plants. Carnivores eat other living
organisms. Omnivores are animals that can eat both plant and animal
tissue.
• Decomposers are the fungi and bacteria, which are the saprophytes.
They feed on the decaying organic matter and convert this matter into
nitrogen and carbon dioxide. The saprophytes play a vital role in
recycling the nutrients so that the producers i.e. plants can use them
once again.

Abiotic Components of Ecosystem

Abiotic components are the physical and/or the chemical factors that act
on the living organisms at any part of their life. These are also called as
the ecological factors. The physical and chemical factors are
characteristic of the environment. Light, air, soil, and nutrients, etc. form
the abiotic components of an ecosystem.

The abiotic factors vary from ecosystem to ecosystem. In an aquatic

ecosystem, the abiotic factors may include water pH, sunlight, turbidity,
water depth, salinity, available nutrients and dissolved oxygen. Similarly,
abiotic factors in terrestrial ecosystems can include soil, soil types,
temperature, rain, altitude, wind, nutrients, sunlight etc.

Here, the sun is the energy source. Producers/plants use this energy to
synthesize food in the presence of carbon dioxide and chlorophyll. The
energy from the sun, through several chemical reactions, turns into
chemical energy.

Energy Flow in Ecosystem

Energy flow in ecosystem is the process of transfer of energy from one
trophic level to another in a food chain. The energy enters the
ecosystem from the sun and exits as heat. The energy flow is based on
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the laws of thermodynamics and can be represented by an energy
pyramid. Here are some key points about energy flow in ecosystem:

- The first trophic level consists of producers or autotrophs, such as

plants and algae, that convert solar energy into chemical energy through
photosynthesis¹².
- The second trophic level consists of primary consumers or herbivores,
such as cows and rabbits, that eat the producers and obtain their
energy¹².
- The third trophic level consists of secondary consumers or carnivores,
such as lions and wolves, that eat the primary consumers and obtain
their energy¹².
- The fourth trophic level consists of tertiary consumers or top
carnivores, such as eagles and sharks, that eat the secondary
consumers and obtain their energy¹².
- The energy flow follows the 10 percent law, which states that only 10
percent of the energy available at one trophic level is transferred to the
next trophic level. The rest of the energy is lost as heat, respiration,
excretion, or decomposition¹²⁴.
- The energy pyramid shows the decreasing amount of energy available
at each trophic level. The base of the pyramid represents the producers,
which have the highest amount of energy. The top of the pyramid
represents the tertiary consumers, which have the lowest amount of
energy.

Here is an example of an energy pyramid for a grassland ecosystem:

Tertiary consumers (10 J)
Secondary consumers (100 J)
Primary consumers (1000 J)
Producers (10000 J)

The energy units are in joules (J). As you can see, the energy decreases
by a factor of 10 at each trophic level. This means that the tertiary
consumers have only 0.1 percent of the energy that the producers have.
This also limits the number of trophic levels in an ecosystem, as there is
not enough energy to support higher levels.
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Unit 3

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)- with special reference to

Goal 4 'Quality Education'
The United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set in 2000
aimed to address global challenges like poverty, hunger, disease, and
environmental degradation by 2015. Considered a historic effort, they
were succeeded by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in
2015, consisting of 17 goals and 169 targets. The SDGs emphasize the
interconnectedness of economic, social, and environmental aspects,
reflecting the need for integrated solutions. In light of challenges like
climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, achieving these goals by
2030 is crucial for a sustainable future.

FROM MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS TO SUSTAINABLE

DEVELOPMENT GOALSThe Global Development Agenda defined by
the UN include eight MDGs, which are:
1) Eradicate poverty and hunger,
2) Achieve universal primary education;
3) Promote gender equality and empower women;
4) Reduce child mortality;
5) Improve maternal health;
6) Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases;
7) Ensure environmental sustainability, and
8) Develop a global partnership for development.
In 2015, since the time period for the MDGs got over, a new agenda was
formulated for global development called Agenda 2030 and the goals
were called Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals are:

Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere;
Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and
promote sustainable agriculture;
Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages;
Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote
lifelong learning opportunities for all;
Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls;
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Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and
sanitation forall;
Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern
energy for all;
Goal 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth,
full and productive employment and decent work for all;
Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable
industrialization and foster innovation;
Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries;
Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient
and sustainable;
Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns;
Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts;
Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine
resources for sustainable development;
Goal 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial
ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and
halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss;
Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable
development, provide access to justice for all and build effective,
accountable and inclusive Institutions at all levels; and
Goal 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the
global partnership for sustainable development.

SDG 4: Quality Education Ensure inclusive equitable quality

education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
India's pursuit of Sustainable Development Goal 4 revolves around
inclusive and quality education, evident in policies spanning early
childhood to higher education. The emphasis on pre-primary education
through the National Early Childhood Care and Education Policy
underscores the holistic approach, incorporating health services and
developmental support. While strides have been made in reducing
dropout rates and increasing enrollment under the Right to Education
Act, challenges persist, with a low Net Enrolment Ratio for higher
education. The focus on infrastructure, gender parity, and skill
development showcases the government's dedication to fostering a
comprehensive and accessible educational landscape. However, India
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acknowledges the journey ahead, as reflected in its SDG 4 ranking of
58, signifying the need for sustained efforts to enhance educational
quality and achieve global prominence in university rankings.

India's commitment to SDG 4 extends to higher education, witnessing

substantial growth in university-level institutions and colleges. The rise in
the Gender Parity Index reflects improved access for women,
showcasing progress in fostering gender-inclusive educational
opportunities. Additionally, initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal
Vikas Yojana contribute to equipping the youth with practical skills,
enhancing employability. The focus on inclusive facilities for children with
disabilities further exemplifies the nation's dedication to creating an
environment that accommodates diverse learning needs. Despite these
advancements, the SDG India Index ranking of 58 underscores the
ongoing challenge of elevating the quality of education, urging India to
persist in its efforts for comprehensive, equitable, and globally
competitive education.

Role of Individual and Community in Sustainable Development

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted by the
United Nations in2015. It was a universal call for action aimed at
protecting the environment, endingpoverty, and ensuring that people
enjoy prosperity and peace by 2030. The United Nations Organization
mentioned all the possible ways in which an individual can contribute to
Sustainable Development Goals.
Individuals play a crucial role in achieving sustainable development
goals:
1. **No Poverty:**
- Donate unwanted items to those in need.
- Create employment opportunities.
- Support businesses that provide fair wages.

2. **Zero Hunger:**
- Contribute to organizations addressing hunger.
- Donate leftover food to NGOs.
- Be mindful of food consumption to reduce waste.
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3. **Quality Education:**
- Take online classes and share knowledge.
- Donate books to support education.
- Start online tutorials to educate others.

4. **Create Awareness:**
- Utilize social media to raise awareness.
- Educate your community on sustainable living.

5. **Don't Waste Food:**

- Buy consciously and avoid food waste.
- Compost organic waste.
- Donate leftover food to those in need.

6. **Shop Local Products:**

- Support local farmers and businesses.
- Boost the local economy through your choices.

7. **Eat Less Meat:**

- Reduce your carbon footprint by consuming less meat.
- Be mindful of the environmental impact of your diet.

8. **Race and Gender Equality:**

- Advocate against gender discrimination and racism.
- Support gender equality initiatives.
- Contribute to a more inclusive and equal society.

9. **Decent Work and Economic Growth:**

- Stay informed about workers' rights.
- Avoid supporting companies with low wages.
- Promote fair-trade businesses.

10. **Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Refuse:**

- Minimize plastic use and choose eco-friendly options.
- Embrace the principles of reduce, reuse, and recycle.
- Say no to single-use plastics and unnecessary offers.
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11. **Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure:**
- Support sustainable infrastructure development.
- Invest in eco-friendly living spaces.

12. **Sustainable Swaps for Everyday Use:**

- Opt for eco-friendly products like bamboo toothbrushes.
- Choose sustainable fabrics in clothing.

13. **Support Sustainable Fashion:**

- Choose clothing made from eco-friendly materials.
- Avoid fast fashion and opt for sustainable alternatives.

14. **Reducing Energy Consumption:**

- Turn off appliances when not in use.
- Transition to renewable energy sources.

15. **Using Public Transportation:**

- Choose public transport to reduce emissions.
- Walk or bike for short distances.

16. **Reduce Water Wastage:**

- Conserve water in daily activities.
- Be mindful of water use.

17. **Renewable Energy Resources:**

- Support and use solar and wind power.

18. **Supporting Eco-Friendly Products and Businesses:**

- Choose products made from sustainable materials.
- Encourage businesses to adopt eco-friendly practices.

19. **Creating Employment:**

- Contribute to job creation where possible.

20. **Life on Land:**

- Reduce paper waste and go paperless.
- Participate in community clean-up projects.
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21. **Life Below Water:**

- Minimize waste to protect oceans.
- Support sustainable fisheries.

22. **Promote Peace and Justice:**

- Advocate for peace and inclusivity.
- Support justice for all in your community.

These are some of the individual contributions that help in a

sustainable future.
An individual can contribute to sustainable development goals by doing
some of the basic things that you also might have heard before, such as:
• Save electricity by using energy-efficient products.
• Recycling of plastic, glass, paper, etc.
• Do not waste paper when it is not needed i.e. while printing bills online.
• Donate things you don’t use to people who need them.
• Supportlocal farmers and don’t waste food.
• Educate children in the community.
• Do not waste water.
• Use a bicycle or transportthat will help the environment.
• Try not to use plastic which is proving to be very harmful to the
environment.
• Plant more and more trees around you, which will help in controlling
climate change.
• Supportthe marginalized and underprivileged in every possible way.
• Promote equality and empower the women and girls around you.
• Get yourself and your family vaccinated.
• Act now to stop global warming.

How can communities involve in sustainable development goals?

1. **Campaign Against Plastic:** Encourage communities to reject
single-use plastics, supporting local businesses for economic growth.
2. **Clean-Up Drives:** Organize volunteer-driven clean-up efforts to
preserve rivers, oceans, and land, fostering community engagement in
environmental protection.
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3. **Education and Awareness:** Promote sustainability through
community-wide education, creating awareness in schools and
organizations for informed, eco-friendly choices.
4. **Gender Equality Advocacy:** Support women's voices against
abuse, while backing local farmers and businesses to promote gender
equality and circular economies.
5. **Save Natural Resources:** Combat pollution by endorsing
plastic-free products and supporting organic farming, reducing soil
pollution and preserving vital resources.
6. **Composting and Recycling:** Establish community compost bins,
mindful product choices, and recycling efforts to manage waste
sustainably in local areas.
7. **Renewable Energy Promotion:** Advocate for clean energy
sources like solar and wind to reduce carbon emissions and contribute to
sustainable energy practices.
8. **Tree Planting:** Combat deforestation by planting trees, addressing
climate change and promoting a healthier environment.
9. **Health and Sanitation Initiatives:** Address water scarcity and
pollution through community efforts, including building toilets,
handwashing promotion, and improved waste management.
10. **Community Engagement:** Join local environmental groups,
volunteer in clean-up activities, and plant trees for a collective impact on
sustainable development.

Unit 4 : Global Warming

Definition
“Global warming is a gradual increase in the earth’s temperature
generally due tothe greenhouse effect caused by increased levels of
carbon dioxide, CFCs, and other pollutants.”

What is Global Warming?

Global warming is the phenomenon of a gradual increase in the
temperature near theEarth’s surface. This phenomenon has been
observed over the past one or two centuries. This change has disturbed
the climatic pattern of the earth. However, theconcept of global warming
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is quite controversial but the scientists have provided relevant data in
support of the fact that the temperature of the Earth is rising constantly.
There are several causes of global warming, which have a negative
effect on humans, plants and animals. These causes may be natural or
might be the outcome of human activities. In order to curb the issues, it
is very important to understand the negative impacts of global warming.

Causes of Global Warming

Following are the major causes of global warming:
Man-made Causes of Global Warming
DeforestationPlants are the main source of oxygen. They take in
carbon dioxide and release oxygen thereby maintaining environmental
balance. The forests are being depleted for many domestic and
commercial purposes. This has led to an environmental
imbalance, thereby giving rise to global warming.

Use of Vehicles The use of vehicles even for a very short distance
results into various gaseousemissions. Vehicles burn fossil fuels which
emit a large amount of carbon dioxideand other toxins into the
atmosphere resulting in a temperature increase.

Overpopulation Increase in population means more people breathing.

This leads to an increase in the level of carbon dioxide, the primary gas
causing global warming, in the atmosphere.

ChlorofluorocarbonWith the excessive use of air conditioners and

refrigerators, humans have been adding CFCsinto the environment
which affects the atmospheric ozone layer. The ozone layer protects the
earth surface from the harmful ultraviolet rays emitted by the sun. The
CFCs has led to ozone layer depletion making way for the ultraviolet
rays, thereby increasing thetemperature of the earth.

Industrial Development With the advent of industrialization, the

temperature of the earth has been increasing rapidly.The harmful
emissions from the factories add to the increasing temperature of the
earth. In 2013, the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change reported
that the increase in the
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global temperature between 1880 and 2012 has been 0.9 degree
Celsius. The increase is 1.1degrees Celsius when compared to the
pre-industrial mean temperature.
Agriculture Various farming activities produce carbon dioxide and
methane gas. These add to thegreenhouse gases in the atmosphere
and increase the temperature of the earth.

Natural Causes of Global Warming

Volcanoes Volcanoes are one of the largest natural contributors to
global warming. The ash and smoke emitted during volcanic eruptions
goes out into the atmosphere and affects the climate.
Water Vapour Water vapour is a kind of greenhouse gas. Due to the
increase in earth’s temperature more water gets evaporated from the
water bodies and stays in the atmosphere adding to global warming.
Melting Permafrost Permafrost is there where glaciers are present. It is
a frozen soil that has environmental gases trapped in it for several years.
As the permafrost melts, it releases the gases back into the atmosphere
increasing the earth’s temperature.
Forest Blazes Forest blazes or forest fires emit a large amount of
carbon-containing smoke. These gases arereleased into the atmosphere
and increase the earth’s temperature resulting in global warming.

Effects of Global Warming

Following are the major effects of global warming:
Rise in Temperature Global warming has led to an incredible increase
in earth’s temperature. Since 1880,the earth’s temperature has
increased by ~1 degrees. This has resulted in an increase in the melting
of glaciers, which have led to an increase in the sea level. This could
havedevastating effects on coastal regions.
Threats to the Ecosystem Global warming has affected the coral reefs
that can lead to a loss of plant and animal lives. Increase in global
temperatures has made the fragility of coral reefs even worse.
Climate Change
Global warming has led to a change in climatic conditions. There are
droughts at someplaces and floods at some. This climatic imbalance is
the result of global warming.
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Spread of Diseases
Global warming leads to a change in the patterns of heat and humidity.
This has ledto the movement of mosquitoes that carry and spread
diseases.
High Mortality Rates
Due to an increase in floods, tsunamis and other natural calamities, the
average death toll usually increases. Also, such events can bring about
the spread of diseases that can hamper human life.
Loss of Natural Habitat
A global shift in the climate leads to the loss of habitats of several plants
and animals. In this case, the animals need to migrate from their natural
habitat and many of them even become extinct. This is yet another major
impact of global warming on biodiversity.

Ozone Layer Definition

“The ozone layer is a region in the earth’s stratosphere that contains
high concentrations of ozone and protects the earth from the harmful
ultraviolet radiations of the sun.”

Ozone Layer
The ozone layer is found in the lower portion of the earth’s atmosphere.
It has the potential to absorb around 97-99% of the harmful ultraviolet
radiations coming from the sun that can damage life on earth.
If the ozone layer was absent, millions of people would develop skin
diseases and may have weakened immune systems.
However, scientists have discovered a hole in the ozone layer over the
Antarctic. This has focussed their concern on various environmental
issues and steps to control them. The main reasons for the ozone hole
are chlorofluorocarbons, carbon tetrachloride, methyl bromide and
hydrochlorofluorocarbons.

Ozone Layer Depletion

“Ozone layer depletion is the gradual thinning of the earth’s ozone layer
in the upper atmosphere caused due to the release of chemical
compounds containing gaseous bromine or chlorine from industries or
other human activities.”
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Ozone Layer Depletion
• Ozone layer depletion is the thinning of the ozone layer present in the
upper atmosphere.
• This happens when the chlorine and bromine atoms in the atmosphere
come into contact with ozone and destroy the ozone molecules.
• One chlorine can destroy 100,000 molecules of ozone. It is destroyed
more quickly than it is created.
• Some compounds release chlorine and bromine on exposure to high
ultraviolet light, which then contributes to the ozone layer depletion.
• Such compounds are known as Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS).
• The ozone-depleting substances that contain chlorine include
chlorofluorocarbon, carbon tetrachloride, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, and
methyl chloroform.
• Whereas, the ozone-depleting substances that contain bromine are
halons, methylbromide, and hydro bromofluorocarbons.
• Chlorofluorocarbons are the most abundant ozone-depleting
substance.
• It is only when the chlorine atom reacts with some other molecule, it
does not react with ozone.
• Montreal Protocol was proposed in 1987 to stop the use, production
and import of ozone-depleting substances and minimize their
concentration in the atmosphere to protect the ozone layer of the earth.

Causes of Ozone Layer Depletion

The ozone layer depletion is a major concern and is associated with a
number of factors. The main causes responsible for the depletion of the
ozone layer are listedbelow:
Chlorofluorocarbons
Chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs are the main cause of ozone layer
depletion. These are released by solvents, spray aerosols, refrigerators,
air-conditioners, etc. The molecules of chlorofluorocarbons in the
stratosphere are broken down by the ultraviolet radiations and release
chlorine atoms. These atoms react with ozone and destroy it.
Unregulated Rocket Launches
Researches say that the unregulated launching of rockets result in much
more depletion of ozone layer than the CFCs do. If not controlled, this
might result in a huge loss of the ozone layer by the year 2050.
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Nitrogenous Compounds
The nitrogenous compounds such as NO2, NO, N2O are highly
responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer.
Natural Causes
The ozone layer has been found to be depleted by certain natural
processes such as Sun-spots and stratospheric winds. But it does not
cause more than 1-2% of the ozone layer depletion.
The volcanic eruptions are also responsible for the depletion of the
ozone layer.

Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS)

“Ozone depleting substances are the substances such as
chlorofluorocarbons, halons, carbon tetrachloride, hydrofluorocarbons,
etc. that are responsible for the depletion of ozone layer.”

Effects Of Ozone Layer Depletion

The depletion of the ozone layer has harmful effects on the environment.
Let us see the major effects of ozone layer depletion on man and
environment.
Effects on Human Health
The human beings are directly exposed to the harmful ultraviolet
radiations of the sun due to the depletion of the ozone layer. This might
result in serious health issues among humans, such as skin diseases,
cancer, sunburns, cataract, quick ageing and weak immune system.
Effects on Animals
Direct exposure to ultraviolet radiations leads to skin and eye cancer in
animals.
Effects on the Environment
Strong ultraviolet rays may lead to minimal growth, flowering and
photosynthesis in plants. The forests also have to bear the harmful
effects of the ultraviolet rays.
Effects on Marine Life
Planktons are greatly affected by the exposure to harmful ultraviolet
rays. These are higher in the aquatic food chain. If the planktons are
destroyed, the organisms present in the lower food chain are also
affected.
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Solutions to Ozone Layer Depletion

• The depletion of the ozone layer is a serious issue and various
programs have been launched by the government of various countries to
prevent it. However, steps should be taken at the individual level as well
to prevent the depletion of the ozone layer.
• Following are some points that would help in preventing this problem at
a global level:

Avoid Using Pesticides

Natural methods should be implemented to get rid of pests and weeds
instead of using chemicals. One can use eco-friendly chemicals to
remove the pests or remove the weeds manually.
Minimize the Use of Vehicles
The vehicles emit a large amount of greenhouse gases that lead to
global warming as well as ozone depletion. Therefore, the use of
vehicles should be minimized as much as possible.
Use Eco-friendly Cleaning Products
Most of the cleaning products have chlorine and bromine releasing
chemicals that find a way into the atmosphere and affect the ozone
layer. These should be substituted with natural products to protect the
environment.
Use of Nitrous Oxide should be Prohibited
The government should take actions and prohibit the use of harmful
nitrous oxide that is adversely affecting the ozone layer. People should
be made aware of the harmful effects of nitrous oxide and the products
emitting the gas so that its use is minimized at the individual level as
well.