Compare the health and environmental risks associated with ground-level ozone to the health and environmental risks associated with ozone layer depletion.

Answer:

Both ground-level ozone and depletion of the ozone layer cause environmental and health concerns. Ground-level ozone is a pollutant that is harmful to organisms when it is breathed in. Ozone in the troposphere can also cause an increase in surface temperatures. Depletion of ozone in the stratosphere causes health and environmental risks indirectly. Since ozone absorbs UV radiation, having less ozone in the stratosphere means more UV radiation will reach the troposphere. This causes greater risk of skin cancer and cataracts. Changes to global climate and harmful effects to plant life are also concerns.