Results of research related to stratospheric ozone protection. Report to congress

Technical Report · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1978

OSTI ID:6313361

Ruff, R E; Russell, P B; Kaplan, S D; Holt, B R; Ryan, J W

Research on ozone protection has been coordinated under the Biological and Climatic Effects Research (BACER) Program. This is a multiagency, multidisciplinary effort initially funded by The Environmental Protection Agency. Its purpose is to reduce uncertainties regarding ozone depletion to improve regulatory decision-making. Health, biological, ecological, climatic and social/economic effects are studied. Activities include surveys of skin cancer among populations at different latitudes, measurements of solar UV-B (290-320nm) at the sites, tests of over 100 plant species under simulated and natural UV-B levels, experiments with aquatic ecosystems, and social/economic workshops. Results to date are as follows: surveys generally support belief that skin cancer incidence is related to UV-B exposure; mortality from skin cancer is increasing among the young, probably due to changes in life style--more time outdoors; all plants tested are sensitive to UV-B at some exposure level; some plants are stunted, others suffer bleached or discolored leaves; UV-B damages larvae of shrimp, crab, mackerel and anchovy; photorepair mechanism is suggested as a potential mitigator of UV-B effects in plants; field type, medium resolution spectroradiometer and calibration standards were developed; and a conceptual model, including parameter uncertainties, is developed for integrated assessment of costs/benefits of control vs. non-control. Reliability of assessments increase as parameter uncertainties decrease--do not have to revise model for new data.

• Research Organization: SRI International, Menlo Park, CA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6313361
• Report Number(s): PB-284400
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BODY
CARCINOGENESIS
COORDINATED RESEARCH PROGRAMS
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
DECISION MAKING
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ECONOMIC IMPACT
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
MAMMALS
MAN
NEAR ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
ORGANS
OZONE
PATHOGENESIS
PLANTS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION CONTROL
POLLUTION REGULATIONS
PRIMATES
RADIATIONS
REGULATIONS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SKIN
SOCIAL IMPACT
STRATOSPHERE
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
VERTEBRATES