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If the ozone layer were to disappear, this would not only affect the growth of plants and marine plankton but would harm peoples immune defense system and even cause cancer.

Since the early 1980s this highly valuable ozone layer has thinned dramatically over the Antarctic. The hole in the layer was first detected in 1981 by a member of a British scientific team stationed at the Antarctic. Since then the discovery has been confirmed by satellite footage.

The chemicals causing the hole are gases known as chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HFCs), which were for a while were used to substitute for the former, the methyl bromide contained in farm pesticides and the so-called halons used in fire extinguishers. It is estimated that 800,000 tons of these gases are released into the atmosphere every year as aerosols, coolants for refrigerators, air conditioners etc and other products.

Joining forces to save the ozone layer
The Vienna Convention of 1987 and the Montreal Protocol established a timetable for eliminating and gradually eliminating the production and consumption of CFCs and halons. In Spain, production and sale of products with CFCs has been banned since 1995. But many homes still have refrigerators that use these harmful gases, and car air conditioning systems also use them. These cars and refrigerators were simply purchased before 1995.

Citizens aware of a problem that affects everyone on the planet can help regenerate the ozone layer. Here are some tips:
-If your refrigerator or home or car air conditioner are old and need to be refilled, do so with recycled CFCs and make sure the system has no leak.
-Dont use sharp objects to chip away ice when defrosting your freezer because they could puncture the pipes holding the coolant.
-If you need a new fridge, make sure it bears the Greenfreeze label which means it uses natural hydrocarbons as coolants.
-It is important to keep your home air conditioner in good condition. Make sure repairs and maintenance are done by certified companies that make sure there are no leaks. Watch out for such leaks.
- Dispose of old appliances using CFC gases at a certified collection point. It is the only way to make sure the gases will be eliminated properly.
-Fire extinguishers that use halons should be checked regularly for leaks. There are now alternatives to halons: foam, chemical powder and carbon dioxide.
-Read the labels of the products you buy and make sure they do not contain CFCs.
-Keep containers of cleaning products with volatile chemicals tightly sealed.
-Be careful when handling fuels so as not to spill them.
-Avoid lengthy exposure to the sun to minimize risk of cataracts and  skin cancer.
-Use your car moderately to help save energy and avoid polluting the atmosphere.

Did you know that...?
-The United Nations estimates an investment of 600 million dollars would be needed for the Third World to stop making CFCs.
- From the signing of the Montreal Protocol in 1987 to 1997, production of CFCs dropped by 87%. At this rate the hole in the ozone layer is expected to start closing in the middle of this century.