Is the ozone layer helpful or harmful in the stratosphere?

Stratospheric ozone is “good” because it protects living things from ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Ground-level ozone, the topic of this website, is “bad” because it can trigger a variety of health problems, particularly for children, the elderly, and people of all ages who have lung diseases such as asthma.

Why is ozone a harmful gas?

How is Ozone Harmful? The same chemical properties that allow high concentrations of ozone to react with organic material outside the body give it the ability to react with similar organic material that makes up the body, and potentially cause harmful health consequences. When inhaled, ozone can damage the lungs.

How is ozone beneficial and damaging?

1. Ozone layer which is present in the stratosphere is only beneficial as it protects us from the direct ultraviolet rays coming from the sun. The ozone layer absorbs the UV rays from the sunlight and hence protects the humans as well as other living beings from radiation health effects.

Is ozone harmful in all levels of the atmosphere?

It occurs naturally in small (trace) amounts in the upper atmosphere (the stratosphere). Ozone protects life on Earth from the Sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation. At ground level, high concentrations of ozone are toxic to people and plants.

Why is ozone important in the stratosphere?

The ozone layer in the stratosphere absorbs a portion of the radiation from the sun, preventing it from reaching the planet’s surface. Most importantly, it absorbs the portion of UV light called UVB. UVB is a kind of ultraviolet light from the sun (and sun lamps) that has several harmful effects.

What is ozone gas used for?

Used to treat infections, wounds and multiple diseases, O3’s effectiveness has been well-documented. It has been used to disinfect drinking water before the turn of the last century. Ozone was known to treat as many as 114 diseases.

What is ozone gas?

Ozone (O3) is a highly reactive gas composed of three oxygen atoms. It is both a natural and a man-made product that occurs in the Earth’s upper atmosphere. (the stratosphere) and lower atmosphere (the troposphere). Depending on where it is in the atmosphere, ozone affects life on Earth in either good or bad ways.

What benefit is the ozone layer to us?

The ozone layer acts as an invisible shield and protects us from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. In particular, the ozone layer protects us from the UV radiation, known as UV-B, which causes sunburn.