Ozone is a natural trace component of the atmosphere. It is created continuously through the action of sunlight and oxygen in the upper atmosphere. At the same time this destroyed by various reactions with other components in the air. The next result of these natural processes is the so-called ozone layer in the stratosphere at altitudes between 15 and 50 kilometers in which the concentration of the ozone is raised. Ozone is a colorless gas, a form of oxygen. However, an ordinary molecule of oxygen contains two atoms. Because of ozone’s composition, it is reactive. It readily combines with whatever materials it comes in contact with, including such biological substances as cells and tissues. Far above the earth, ozone forms naturally as oxygen produced from living things moves from the troposphere, the layer of air nearest to the earth surface, to the stratosphere. Air in the stratosphere absorbs solar energy, or heat from the sun, which in turn creates a photochemical reaction that produces ozone - a benefit to the environment since ozone protects people, plants, and animals from harmful radiation (Health effects of....).The ozone layer is important because it absorbs most of the damaging ultra-violet radiation from the sun before it reaches ground level, where it can cause sun burn, skin cancer and cataracts. Research suggests that any additional UV-B (ultra-violet radiation) at ground level could depress our bodies’ immune systems, damage the natural food chain and reduce crop yields. Although ozone makes up less that 1ppm of all the gases in our planet’s atmosphere, but it is essential to life on earth. Scientists assume that in the early days of the earth’s evolution there was no atmosphere, but gases from planet surfaces and volcanoes slowly collected. At first, the gas was little protection from the sun’s UV radiation. But according to some evolutionary theories, life forms on earth may have been ...
