Which of the following pollutants will lead to the depletion of ozone layer?
Answer Details
The pollutant that leads to the depletion of the ozone layer is chlorofluorocarbon (CFCs). CFCs are man-made chemicals that were widely used in the past as refrigerants, solvents, and propellants. When CFCs are released into the atmosphere, they rise into the stratosphere, where they come into contact with ozone molecules. The chlorine atoms in CFCs react with ozone, breaking apart the ozone molecules and causing a reduction in the overall amount of ozone in the stratosphere. This process continues until all of the ozone-depleting chlorine atoms have been depleted. The resulting decrease in ozone in the stratosphere leads to an increase in the amount of harmful ultraviolet radiation that reaches the Earth's surface, which can have negative impacts on human health and the environment.