How does damage to the ozone layer affect the UK?
Ozone layer damage extends from the Arctic to northern Europe, including the UK. At Camborne in Cornwall and Lerwick in the Shetland Islands, total ozone concentrations have generally fallen since 1979 (suggesting ozone loss), although there has been an increase in recent years. Declining ozone values mean ultraviolet (UV) radiation levels have increased over the UK. UV exposure stops our immune systems working properly, making us more prone to develop eye cataracts and skin cancers. Deaths in England and Wales from malignant skin melanomas rose from 200 to 300 per year in the early 1950s to 1,766 in 2003. UV radiation may also damage plants, and the young stages of aquatic wildlife.
