The latest predictions are 200,000 additional cancer cases per year. Cataracts cloud the lens of the eye, which can lead to blindness. According to studies, increased UV radiation may lead to an additional 18 million new cases of cataracts. If damage to the ozone layer is halted, it is estimated that over 90 percent of those cataract cases can be prevented. Some scientists theorize that increased UV radiation suppresses the ability of the body's immune system to fend off diseases such as herpes simplex.
Research indicates that vegetation, particularly crops, can be adversely affected by UV radiation.
Combined with a bad growing season such as a drought, severe crop reductions could have a devastating effect on the world's food supply. Plankton and larvae are near the bottom of the food chain and many other marine animals feed on these life forms. Loss of these food sources could have an impact on the food chain, all the way up to humans. EPA Information Resources Official documents and fact sheets produced by the EPA are available at no charge. Use the document name as it appears in this publication.