How can ozone depletion harm ecosystems and sensitive organisms?

The ozone layer serves as a vital shield for life on Earth by blocking lethal levels of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from reaching the surface. Ozone depletion—the thinning of this layer due to human-released chemicals like chlorine and bromine—increases the amount of this radiation that penetrates the atmosphere.12

Increased UV exposure poses significant risks to living organisms:

• Human Health: Higher radiation levels are linked to increased rates of skin cancer, eye cataracts, and damage to the immune system and genetic material.2
• Ecosystems: Scientists are concerned that elevated UV radiation can disrupt ecosystems by harming sensitive organisms. Historically, the formation of the ozone layer was essential for life to migrate from the oceans to land by screening out these harmful wavelengths.1

It is important to distinguish between stratospheric ozone, which protects life, and near-surface ozone, which is a harmful pollutant that damages agriculture and vegetation. While stratospheric depletion threatens life through increased radiation, ground-level ozone acts as a toxic agent that causes yellowing, spotting, and tissue death in crops and trees.13