Harmful Effects of the Sun - Term Paper Example

Harmful Effects of the Sun Introduction Sun is an essential object to the lives of all the living things, both plants and animals, in the surface since it is useful in the process of synthesizing vitamin D. Apart from this, the sun is also an excellent remedy for some given forms of seasonal depression, hence important in mood creation and rectification. However, the sun can be very dangerous and cause health effects, both in the long term and short term basis if its penetration to the earths surface is not controlled. The penetration of the excessive ultraviolet rays into the earths surface results from the depletion of the ozone layer as a result of some human and other natural activities. In this paper, am going to discuss some of the health effects that results from the excessive heat and penetration of sun rays into the earths surface. My discussion will be based on both the short term and long term results as evidenced in living things, plants and animals, and their deteriorating health. Causes of Excessive Ultra Violet Rays Penetration in the Earths Surface Scientific research has come up with some findings that the ozone layer is undergoing destruction as a result of some manufactured chemical substances containing chloride and bromide substances. Those chemicals that lead to the destruction of the ozone layer are normally described as the ozone-depleting substances, and they are nontoxic and environmentally safe in the troposphere. The main ozone depleting substances are chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), used in refrigeration, hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), carbon tetrachloride, used in solvents and fire extinguisher, and methyl chloroform, used mainly in industries. The ozone layer is significant in the process of filtering the most potentially harmful shortwave ultraviolet (UV) radiation, meaning that very less amount of UV reaches the earths surface. The ODS erodes the ozone layer leading to a reduction in its filtration role which in turn allows a lot of the ultra UV to penetrate into the earths surface. This, in turn, leads to harm to human health, adverse effects on agriculture, forestry, and natural ecosystem, damage to marine life, animals and other materials as discussed below. Harmful Effects of the Sun to Human Health Immunosuppression This is the process by which the immune system of the body, human beings, particularly, get weakened in fighting some of the antibodies, increasing exposure to various diseases. Scientific research has come up with findings that the increased exposure to the UV leads to suppression of the white blood cells in the body and their roles as well. In this case, the skin becomes unable to react against the incoming diseases such as cancer, leading to high risks of cancer development around the skin surface. This is usually as a result of the triggering of the cancerous cells around the skin surface, leading to their replication and duplication around the skin surface. Cataracts Cataracts are the clouding of the eye lens, leading to high risks of blindness to those individuals who develop it, mainly as a result of high exposure to the sun (Smith, 2007). The direct penetration of the UV rays into the eye lenses for a very long period leads to the weakening of these lenses leading to sight disabilities. The eye lenses develop some forms of malfunctioning hence not able to give the right image of the object as projected, thereby developing blindness. Apart from the lenses, the longtime penetration of the UV lights into the eyes damages other several parts including cornea, retina, and conjunctiva. When the cornea is damaged, then its role of controlling the entry of excess light into the eyes is doomed as well as the eye losing 65-75% of its total focusing power. Therefore, the lights entering the lens cannot be refracted neither can they be bent, hence leading to vision problems. The retina and conjunctiva get destroyed too, leading inability to convert the lights into neural signals, and, therefore, wrong signals are sent into the brain for interpretation. Skin cancers The excessive penetration of the sun rays accompanied by the too much exposure of the skin to these rays leads to the development of skin cancer. The excessive UV triggers the development of cancerous cells along the skin surface, which in turn increases the ability of one developing skin cancer. High levels of exposure to the sun lead to sunburns, which are evident in the skin surface of individuals as well as the premature aging of the skin (Wright, 2007). Adverse Effects of the Sun of Agriculture, Forestry and the Natural Ecosystems in the Earths Surface The increase in the amount of UV reaching the earths surface leads to global warming effect, which later leads to evaporation of moisture in the soil. This moisture loss in the soil causes the extinction of humus that is used by the plants as part of the organic manure. Therefore, the process of humus intake of plants is inhibited by the humus reduction, which results to the retardation of the plants growth. This effect of increased solar insolation is evident in such crops species as wheat, barley, rice, soybeans and carrots among others, which rely on a lot on the humus from the soil. There are some species of crops with rates of photosynthesis that are deactivated by an increase in UV at to some point, due to the excessive heat energy produced by these wavelengths. Due to the reduction in photosynthesis, then it means that these particular plants will have reduced flowering and growth, in general. Some of them include peas, tomatoes, and cucumbers, whose leaves tend to be very sensitive to be very sensitive to sunlight and their seedlings, are harmed more by the intense UV. Harmful Effects of the Sun to Marine Life The survival of the aquatic organisms depends on the availability of planktons, their food, both the zooplanktons and plant planktons (Photo Editors, 2003). In the aquatic food chains, planktons are the first vital step since they are the primary producer of food and other energy sources. Since the majority of the planktons is found in the surface layer of the oceans, they receive the direct insulation from the sun. Planktons are threatened by the increase in the UV, which leads to their death and extinction, and this means a reduction of the food of the aquatic organisms. The absence of planktons of the aquatic organisms such as fish will mean that most of them will die, and this may lead to reduced fishing, an economic activity. The reduced level of planktons, as a result of the increased UV, will lead to a disruption of the fresh water and the salt water food chains. There are some aquatic species which cannot survive in non-fresh and saline water, meaning that they will have to migrate to the Canadian waters. Furthermore, the loss of aquatic biodiversity in our lakes, oceans, seas and other water bodies will eventually lead to a decrease in the fish yields for commercial and sports fisheries. Harmful Effects of the Sun to Animals Just like for the human beings, the increased exposure and levels of UV may lead to eye and skin cancers to domestic animals. The species of major marine animals in their developmental stage are always threatened by the increase in the solar insulations under the Antarctic ozone hole. This has led to their reduction in population size, and if those already with cancers are consumed, their cancerous cells can trigger cancers in the body of the particular consumers. Harmful Effects of the Sun to Materials Most of the construction materials in the construction industries such as wood, plastic, rubber, fabrics among others are degraded by the increased solar insulation. This means that these materials have to be frequently replaced for the particular construction sites or sections to remain relevant as intended before. Also, the production processes of these particular materials have to be upgraded by integrating other inputs that will make them more resistant to the increased UV. These will eventually lead to an economic impact by spending more since continuous replacement and protection of these materials in the UV will have to be undertaken. Conclusion Indeed, there are a lot of benefits that human beings receive from sunlight, such as light, photosynthesis in plants, energy for respiration and other industrial uses. In the absence of the Sun, then life can be unbearable since our daily activities will be hampered and limited. On the other hand, excessive increase of the solar insulation, which results from some of the human and natural activities, leads to some of the harmful effects as discussed above. This means that some of the human activities that result in the depletion of the ozone layer has to be discouraged and put under some legislative acts. In the process of doing so, the rate of ozone layer depletion will be minimized, and there will be a lot of filtration done on the solar rays. If no actions are taken to restore these orders, them the effects of the increased UV penetration into the earths surface will be rampant and reach highly adverse levels. References Photo Editors/Business Editors NOTE TO MEDIA: Multimedia assets available A photo is available,at URL. (2003, Mar 21). The skin cancer foundation recommends coolibar `Anti-cancer hats and swimwear; new summerwear designs block 97% of UV rays. Business Wire Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/444925360?accountid=45049 Smith, S. (2007). Here comes the sun: Are your eyes ready for it? Occupational Hazards, 69(6), 37-38. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/213696003?accountid=45049 Wright, J. A. (2007, May 01). Defense strategy: Protect yourself against the harmful effects of the sun. McClatchy - Tribune Business News Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/464238368?accountid=45049 Read More