Ozone - Cancer of the Sky

Television (Full Length) – 1993

During the 1980s, the world became aware of serious ozone depletion in the stratosphere, the result of decades of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) use in whiteware and aerosol products. This documentary follows international scientists who converge in Antarctica each spring to monitor the fluctuating 'ozone hole' above the continent. New Zealand researchers warn not only of ecological damage, but also an increased risk of skin cancer, as Aotearoa sits under the ozone hole in spring and summer, allowing for dangerous UV exposure. Representatives from 43 nations signed the Montreal Protocol to phase out the use of CFCs in 1987.

The ozone hole only occurs over the Antarctic, and there's a very good reason for that. The cold temperatures of the Antarctic allow a certain type of chemistry that depletes ozone to occur.
– Atmospheric Scientist Sylvia Nichol on the location of the ozone hole