Ozone Layer, why do we need it?

Ozone is a pale blue gas formed in the stratosphere of atmosphere. It is formed in the atmosphere by absorption of certain radiations by the oxygen. When oxygen absorbs radiations, it is dissociated into nascent oxygen and then combine with other oxygen molecules to form ozone.
In the stratosphere, there is a thick layer of ozone called ozonosphere. It extends from 17 to 50 kilometers from the surface of the Earth.It absorbs all the harmful radiations coming from Sun and the space. It acts as a protective shield for living organisms on the Earth. If there were no layer of ozone in the atmosphere then, the harmful ultraviolet radiations and highly energetic particles coming from space would enter the Earth's surface and cause damage to the living organisms. In addition to that, the ozonosphere also absorbs the shortwave ultraviolet radiations capable of heating the lower atmosphere and saves the atmosphere from overheating.Ozone layer is important for all living organisms.
According to environmental scientists,the ozone layer is getting depleted due to the action of chlorofluro carbons(CFCs) and oxides of nitrogen. CFCs are also known as feron and are a group of non-toxic, non-inflammable and cheaply produced chemicals. The ferons are released by spray cans, refrigerators, air conditioners, various industries, research laboratories , burning foam products etc. and the oxides of nitrogen are released by jet liners and nitrogenous fertilizers. They reach the stratosphere and destroy the ozonosphere and it is depleted. Due to the release of CFCs and oxides of nitrogen in the atmosphere, a large number of holes have been found in stratosphere. A large ozone hole was reported over Antarctica where ozone content dropped by 30 percent from its original value.
The depletion of ozone layer can cause many destructive effects. Over exposure of UV radiation can cause skin burn; skin, lung and breast cancer, leukemia, cataracts etc. It may also damage DNA leading to mutation of genes. Depletion of ozone layer may also cause the loss of different plants from terrestrial and aquatic habitats. It may also reduce crop productivity. The depletion of ozone layer may bring about scientific changes in climate and cause green house effect leading to global warming.
Therefore, we should protect the ozone layer to protect our environment from various kinds of hazards. The ozone layer in the atmosphere can be protected with many efforts. We should ban production and use of CFCs. We should avoid foam products and find alternatives for them and other CFC products. We should also make efforts to recapture the CFCs released from air conditioners, refrigerators and other machines using them. We should avoid the release of oxides of nitrogen. We should bring awareness about the importance of ozone layer and effects of ozone layer depletion in people. We should be able to work effectively against the ozone layer depletion for the betterment and conservation of our environment.