The poisoning of our ozone layerThe poisoning of the Earth's ozone layer is causing increasing concern around the world about the he global environment and health effects of life on planet Earth. There is not just one particular cause of ozone depletion; the accumulation of different pollutants in our ozone layer has added up to become a global problem. Ozone poisoning does not have just one effect, but rather multiple ramifications ranging from illness to death. Ozone damage increases every second; Additionally, there are many ways to help reduce the problem and preserve the ozone layer. Ozone is a pale blue gaseous form of oxygen. In its chemical form it is also known as O3. Ozone can be beneficial or harmful depending on its location in the Earth's atmosphere. While ozone is located in the troposphere (which extends from the Earth's surface to about 10 miles), it is a harmful pollutant and a major component of smog and other environmental health problems. This tropospheric ozone can damage plastic, rubber, plant and animal tissues. Ozone located about 10 to 25 miles above the Earth's surface, in a part of the Earth's atmosphere called the stratosphere, is very beneficial. Ozone is a major factor that makes life possible on Earth. About 90% of the planet's ozone is found in the ozone layer. The ozone in this layer protects and filters the Earth from 95 to 99 percent of the sun's ultraviolet radiation. Low ozone does not protect or block the sun's ultraviolet rays from reaching the Earth's surface, leading to overexposure of life on Earth, causing many diseases. Ozone depletion is caused by many factors, but the main cause which will be elaborated in the following paragraph is the main reason why our ozone is continually being poisoned. The main cause of ozone depletion on Earth is the release of chlorofluorocarbons into the atmosphere. Chlorofluorocarbons, also known as CFCs, are industrially produced chemical compounds that contain the elements chlorine, fluorine, carbon and sometimes hydrogen that break down protective ozone in the atmosphere. Since CFCs are heavier than air, the process by which CFCs reach ozone typically takes two to five years to enter the stratosphere. When CFCs reach the stratosphere, ultraviolet rays from the sun break them down..