FACULTY OF APPLIED SCIENCES

Bachelor of Science in Environmental Technology (HONOURS)

AS229

EVT 474

ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY

PREPARED BY: GROUP 02

NO NAME STUDENT ID
1 RAISUDDIN AHMAD 2024165663
2 AHMAD MUAZ BIN JASNI 2024765703
3 MUHAMMAD AMIRUL BIN MOHD ZAMBRI 2024733853
4 MUHAMMAD SAIFUL BIN SARUDIN 2024904941

CLASS:

NAS229F2A

INSTRUCTOR:

NURZULAIFA SHAHEERA ERNE BINTI MOHD YASIM

INTRODUCTION

Our atmosphere has several layers surrounding the earth, and every layer has a significant role in
the earth's surface. The stratosphere is the second layer after the troposphere. It ranges from 15 to
50 km from the earth's surface. This layer houses the ozone layer, a vital part of our atmosphere.
It absorbs and scatters ultraviolet solar radiation, protecting living organisms from harmful effects.
Without this protection, life on Earth would face devastating effects, including higher rates of skin
cancer, eye damage, and disruption to ecosystems. Unfortunately, human activities have caused
significant damage to this layer in the late 20th century. In 1970, Paul J. Crutzen found this in his
research “Nitric oxide both natural and anthropogenic sources can catalytically destroy
stratospheric ozone.” Another discovery made by Molina and Rowland (1974)
“chlorofluorocarbon are stable compounds that, upon release into the atmosphere, break down in
the stratosphere to release chlorine, which participates in catalytic reactions leading to ozone
depletion.” Ozone depletion is the gradual thinning of Earth’s ozone layer in the upper atmosphere
caused by the release of chemical compounds containing gaseous chlorine or bromine from
industry and other human activities. The thinning is most pronounced in the polar regions,
especially in Antarctica.

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CONTENTS

Sources

Ozone depletion was first recognised as a significant environmental issue in the 1970s with the
widespread industrial production and use of ozone-depleting substances (OCDSs). However,
researchers Joe Farman, Brian Gardiner, and Jonathan Shanklin from the British Antarctic Survey
discovered severe ozone depletion over Antarctica, known as the “ozone hole”. This event was
pivotal in demonstrating the real-world impact of ozone-depleting substances (ODSs). The main
sources of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) include:

1. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
These man-made compounds are widely used in refrigeration, air conditioning, and aerosol
propellants. They slowly rise into the stratosphere and are broken down by strong
ultraviolet radiation. This would release chlorine atoms, and then react with ozone
molecules. The seminal work by Molina and Rowland (1974) highlighted this mechanism.
2. Halons
These gases appear in the application of fire suppression systems. All halons contain
bromine which is 40-100 times more effective at destroying ozone layers than chlorine.
Reactive gases such as bromine destroy stratospheric ozone in catalytic cycles made up of
two or more separate reactions. Their impact was discussed in the Scientific Assessment of
Ozone Depletion: 1994 report.
3. Nitrous Oxide (N2O)
Nitrous oxide is emitted during agricultural, land use and industrial activities such as fossil
fuel combustion. When NO is present in the stratosphere, it can react with ozone (O3) to
form nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and oxygen (O2). Then, NO2 can react with a single oxygen
atom to reform NO and O2. This cycle can continue indefinitely with each NO molecule
destroying many ozone molecules. Ravishankara et al. (2009) provided insights into its
role in ozone depletion.
4. Methyl Bromide
Methyl bromide is a natural substance and is manufactured as a fumigant to control pests
in the soil, food and nonfood commodities. Its known sources include oceanic emission,
biomass burning and fumigation use. Once in the atmosphere, methyl bromide eventually

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reaches the stratosphere, where it is broken down by ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Methyl
bromine releases bromine upon breakdown, contributing to ozone depletion. Its effects
were examined in the Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion: 1988.

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Mechanism

The Chapman cycle is a chemical reaction proposed by Sydney Chapman in 1930. This reaction
explains ozone's formation, destruction, and equilibrium processes in the Earth’s stratosphere. It
plays a significant role in protecting the ozone layer from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Mechanism of the Ozone Cycle

1) Formation of Ozone (Photodissociation of Oxygen):

• Ultraviolet (UV-C) radiation with wavelengths of less than 242 nanometers
from the sun splits diatomic oxygen molecules (O 2) into individual oxygen
atoms (O)
O2 + UV-C → 2O
• The free oxygen atoms react with other oxygen molecules to form ozone (O3)
O + O2 → O3
2) Destruction of Ozone (Photodissociation of Ozone):
• Ozone molecules absorb UV radiation (UV-B and UV-C) with wavelengths of
greater than 290 nanometers and dissociate into oxygen molecules and free
oxygen atoms:
O3 + UV → O2 + O
3) Dynamic Equilibrium:
• Under normal conditions, the formation and destruction of ozone maintain a
dynamic equilibrium.

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Unfortunately, the abundance of ODS released into the atmosphere has interfered with this cycle
and led to ozone depletion. ODS that release chlorine include chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs),
hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), carbon tetrachloride, and methyl chloroform. ODS that
release bromine include halons and methyl bromide. They are eventually carried into the
stratosphere in a process that can take as long as two to five years. Ozone (O3) in the stratosphere
is destroyed primarily by reactions involving reactive halogen and hydrogen species. These
processes are catalyzed by specific free radicals, including chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br), hydroxyl
(OH) and nitric oxide NO).

Catalytic Destruction by Free Radicals:

• Step 1, a CFC molecule undergoes homolytic cleavage upon exposure to UV

radiation, resulting in the formation of two radicals.
• Step 2, the chlorine radical rapidly reacts with ozone to form molecular oxygen
and chlorine monoxide radicals.
• Step 3 appears to be a chain termination step, as two chlorine monoxide radicals
combine. Cl2O2 is a condensation product.
• In steps 4 and 5 this highly reactive compound undergoes two successive
homolytic cleavages to form O2 and chlorine radicals, which propagate the
chain.
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Effect
Effect of ozone depletion can harm into variety of effect, which can directly affect human and
environment. When ozone in atmosphere become less, UV radiation will be more reaches the earth
surface. UV radiation is the main cause of skin cancer when human exposed to the UV radiation
for long time that can damage the skin cells and can make the skin cells mutation and become
melanoma and a few types of skin cancer.

Due to exposed to UV light for long time also can lead to eye damage and lead to cataract, which
a condition that lens of eye become clouds and can make human blinds. Other than that, photo
keratitis or sunburn of the eye also can be other effect of UV light to the eye.

The increase of level UV light in the atmosphere can harm the plants. It because UV light can
damage the plant cells and can effect the plants ability of photosynthesis, which is can stunt the
plant to growth and will affect the agriculture yields that can threat the food supplies around the
world.

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Marine ecosystem can also be affect from UV radiation, mainly plankton which is a small organism
in the ocean that produce the oxygen and base of the food chain in the ocean. When the increase
of plankton effect by UV radiation, larger effect to the marine ecosystem including fish and other
mammals that use plankton in their diets.

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Lastly, ozone depletion can also become effect to the climate changes. When ozone depletion
occur, it can affect the weather pattern, which is can increase global warming and change the
precipitation level. The depletion of ozone can also affect the atmospheric circulation that can
change the climates unpredictable.

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Regulation
Malaysia have made efforts to combat ozone depletion using various national laws, regulations
and international agreements. A key legislation use by Malaysia is the Environmental Quality
(Scheduled Wastes) Regulation 2005 that enforced by Department of Environment (DOE) under
the Minister of Environment and Water. This regulation designated ozone depletion substances
such as CFCs and halons as Scheduled waste, and to makes sure proper management, treatment
and disposal to reduce effect to the environment. Moreover, the Environmental Quality Act that
include Clean Air Regulations 2014, which is start effect on 2015 and set the standard for control
the pollutant released into the atmosphere include ozone depletion substances. Environmental
Quality Act aims to regulate the discharge of pollutant substances that release to the atmosphere
that contribute to the ozone depletion, even though this act do not have specific regulation for this
problem. The main pollutants affect the ozone depletion that monitor by this regulation for
reducing are carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter.
As part of global environment committee, Malaysia ratified the Montreal Protocol in 1989 that
agreeing to phase out ozone depletion chemicals. This is evidence Malaysia committed in ozone
depletion substance phase out program, which shown significant reduced the use of
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halons in the industry such as air conditioning industry, while
encourage to adopt the safe alternative such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). Next step for Malaysia
extended it effort for environmental achievement are ratified the Kigali Amendment 2020 for
reduce the use of HFCs in the industries. Malaysia pledged want to reduce the consumption of
HFCs by 2045. For participate of Montreal Protocol and Kigali Amendment shown Malaysia
dedicated to involve in environmental protection which is align with Malaysia National Climate
Change Policy and involvement in Paris Agreement that aim to combat with global warming and
climate change.

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Case Study: The Antarctic Ozone Hole
In 1980, Antarctic ozone hole was discover and it is one of the important example of ozone
depletion. For this event, there are phenomenon that happen each year during Southern
Hemisphere spring, which is from September to December. This Ozone depletion in Antarctic
cause by emission of CFSs and halons, which is effect by usage of chemical that widely use in
refrigerant and air conditioning industries in the 1980s.
In the Antarctic, the temperature is very low, it is very suitable for CFCs, and other ODS that
release to the atmosphere break down, which release the chlorine and bromine atoms and it react
with the ozone. Moreover, Polar stratospheric cloud (PSCs) also play role in ozone depletion. Due
to low temperature in Antarctic, the PSCs formed and provide the suitable placed for chemical
reaction of CFCs and Halons occur and became reactive when spring come. Result of this reaction
make the ozone break apart and make ability of ozone layer absorb UV radiation decrease and UV
radiation can reach the earth surface that affect humans and environments.

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Conclusion

In the Stratosphere, located the ozone layer that absorb and block the UV radiation from the sun
and when the ozone was depleted, it become serious environment issue that can be the biggest
risks to human and environment. Ozone depletion can lead to human health problem such as skin
cancer, melanoma, and low immune system. It also can disturb the ecosystems of agriculture and
biodiversity such as damage the plant cells and can affect the plants ability of photosynthesis.

Emission of ozone depletion substance such as CFCs, halons into the atmosphere that breakdown
the ozone molecules into stratosphere is the main cause of ozone depletion. When the ozone layer
thin from the reaction occur, UV radiation that directly to earth surface is increase and can very
harm to humans and environment. Because of that, introduction of Montreal Protocol that establish
in 1987 to phase out the production and usage of ozone depletion substances in the industries
become hope for humanity to recover the ozone depletion. The Montreal Protocol has successfully
repair the ozone depletion by reduce the harmful substances usage and the progress of recovery of
ozone depletion still being observed.

Adaption of Montreal Protocol and Kigali Amendment is very important to make sure the reducing
of ozone depletion substances will be continues and the safer alternatives substances must be find
and use widely. Eventhough hydrofluorocarbon is safe substances that replace the
chlorofluorocarbon, it still can be the potential greenhouse gases. For the bright and greener future,
other substances that ozone friendly and climate friendly must be identify.

Public awareness about important of ozone layer must be increase among the people. Also to
encourage the people about the environmental sustainability. This awareness can help many people
to understand how their action can affect the environment and motive the people to protect the
environment. On top of that, the strict and better regulation systems are need to make sure all the
legislation and rule are followed and ensure comply with the international agreement. So that, this
effort can make sure ozone layer will be restored and make environmental more healthier and
better for future generations.

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References

• Molina, M. J., & Rowland, F. S. (1974). Stratospheric Sink for Chlorofluoromethanes:

Chlorine Atom-Catalysed Destruction of Ozone. Nature, 249, 810–812.
• World Meteorological Organization (WMO). (1994). Scientific Assessment of Ozone
Depletion: 1994.
• World Meteorological Organization (WMO). (1998). Scientific Assessment of Ozone
Depletion: 1998.
• Ravishankara, A. R., Daniel, J. S., & Portmann, R. W. (2009). Nitrous Oxide (N₂O): The
Dominant Ozone-Depleting Substance Emitted in the 21st Century. Science, 326(5949),
123–125.
• Montreal Protocol: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). (n.d.). Montreal
Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer. United Nations Environment
Programme. Retrieved December 21, 2024, from https://www.unep.org/ozonaction/who-
we-are/secretariat-montreal-protocol
• Kigali Amendment: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). (n.d.). Kigali
Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. United Nations Environment Programme.
Retrieved December 21, 2024, from https://www.unep.org/resources/report/kigali-
amendment-montreal-protocol
• Paris Agreement: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC). (n.d.). The Paris Agreement. United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change. Retrieved December 21, 2024, from https://unfccc.int/process-and-
meetings/the-paris-agreement/the-paris-agreement

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