202
global systems thinking its success seems to be
ambiguous as the solution of one global problem
contributes to another one.
In October 2016 the representatives of 197
countries (those taking part in the Montreal
Protocol) agreed to gradually reduce the production and application of compounds helping ozone
protection but harmful regarding climate protection from 2019 to achieve a reduction of 85% by
2047 (UNEP 2016). As a result, new materials
have to be used gradually that are environmental
friendly from both aspects. For this of course
chemical industry needs to develop these substitute materials that do not exists currently.
Regarding climate protection, however, 2047
seems to be very distant.
Finally, it has to be mentioned that while
humanity tries to hinder the decrease of the ozone
content of the stratosphere, its concentration
grows steadily in the lower layers of the troposphere. This phenomenon is associated with
intensifying air pollution. Nitrogen oxides and
hydrocarbons have decisive role in the formation
of tropospheric ozone through photochemical
reactions (Los Angeles type or oxidising smog—
see Sect. 4.1.2.3). Tropospheric ozone is toxic for
every living being even in small quantity.
Pulmonary function decrements in children and
young adults while undertaking exercise have
been reported at hourly average ozone concentration in the range 80–150 ppb (Stanners and
Bourdeau 1995).
Fortunately tropospheric ozone reaches occasionally harmful concentrations only in sunny
cities with busy vehicle traffic but a warning sign
is the observation of oxidising smog even far
from cities. The amount of ozone formed in the
troposphere is not enough to compensate the
decreasing protective effect of stratospheric
ozone.
4 Changes on Earth as a Result of Interaction Between the Society and Nature
global systems thinking its success seems to be
ambiguous as the solution of one global problem
contributes to another one.
In October 2016 the representatives of 197
countries (those taking part in the Montreal
Protocol) agreed to gradually reduce the production and application of compounds helping ozone
protection but harmful regarding climate protection from 2019 to achieve a reduction of 85% by
2047 (UNEP 2016). As a result, new materials
have to be used gradually that are environmental
friendly from both aspects. For this of course
chemical industry needs to develop these substitute materials that do not exists currently.
Regarding climate protection, however, 2047
seems to be very distant.
Finally, it has to be mentioned that while
humanity tries to hinder the decrease of the ozone
content of the stratosphere, its concentration
grows steadily in the lower layers of the troposphere. This phenomenon is associated with
intensifying air pollution. Nitrogen oxides and
hydrocarbons have decisive role in the formation
of tropospheric ozone through photochemical
reactions (Los Angeles type or oxidising smog—
see Sect. 4.1.2.3). Tropospheric ozone is toxic for
every living being even in small quantity.
Pulmonary function decrements in children and
young adults while undertaking exercise have
been reported at hourly average ozone concentration in the range 80–150 ppb (Stanners and
Bourdeau 1995).
Fortunately tropospheric ozone reaches occasionally harmful concentrations only in sunny
cities with busy vehicle traffic but a warning sign
is the observation of oxidising smog even far
from cities. The amount of ozone formed in the
troposphere is not enough to compensate the
decreasing protective effect of stratospheric
ozone.
4 Changes on Earth as a Result of Interaction Between the Society and Nature