創業者ブログ

Merits and demerits of ultraviolet light
(Sep. 6, 2007)

A big globe is placed at the second floor of our "Eco-life Plaza" building, where my company has its main office as well. For installing this globe, we asked for subscriptions from companies, Rotarians, and ordinary citizens in Fukui. We still have to reimburse them for some of the expenses. The globe incurs considerable amount of maintenance cost. However, we regard the exhibition of the globe as a part of CSR. We are making great efforts to carry on the exhibition of the globe.

We decided to exhibit the globe in our building because the concept statement of the globe was very simple and clear: Professor TAKEMURA, Shin-ichi, the developer of the globe said that the globe was one-12800 thousand model of Earth, therefore, its diameter was exactly one meter.

I always look after brevity and clarity. I believe that every writing, talking, hypothesis, verification should be simple and clear because otherwise it can never leave an impression nor strike a sympathetic chord. And I liked Professor Takemura's statement. It was very simple. As soon as I heard his statement, I immediately understood that his globe was a powerful tool to explain how damegeable and how precious our Earth is. Since then, it has been my long-cherished desire to exhibit the globe in my company's building.

On the globe, the depth of the sea is represented as only one milli-meter. The atmosphere is represented also as only one milli-meter. Moreover, the stratosphere (ozonosphere) is represented as one or two milli-meters. Astronauts fly over from 3 to 5 centi-meters up. By virtue of the globe, you can "see" how we stick close to the surface of Earth.

Now, the ozonosphere is in abnormal circumstance; ozone holes appeared, particularly up in the sky of Antarctic Pole.

By the way, do you know how the ozonosphere was made? FIrst, the atmosphere was formed by photosynthesis of plants (６ＣＯ₂＋６Ｈ₂Ｏ→Ｃ₆Ｈ₁₂Ｏ₆＋６Ｏ₆). This ozonosphere is now holed.

Ultraviolet light is classified into three types: (a) the light in the shortest wavelength (175-240nm); (b) the light in the medium wavelength (240--320 nm); (c) the light in relatively long wavelength (320-400 nm), which showers down on the earth's surface. UV-A normally disappears in the process of its degradation of oxygen in the atmosphere. As a result of this process, ozone is formed. On the other hand, UV-B also normally disappears in the process of its combination with ozone in a chemical reaction. These two types of ultraviolet are very harmful to humans, but both of them normally do not come down to us on the surface of the earth.

However, as I mentioned above, the ozone sphere is holed. The main cause of the holes is alleged to be chlorofluorocarbon (CFC). CFC blows holes in the ozone sphere. As a result, UV-B comes down to us.

Recently, the weather forecast started UV reports. The possible exposure of UV is reported on five levels. I wish I could get UV information anywhere in real time.

At one time, people in the high-latitude region of the northern hemisphere were troubled with health problems caused by the lack of exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Ultra violet is not necessarily harmful. UV-C plays a significant role in　photonic synthesis. Although ultraviolet light itself is invisible, its effects are visibly good and bad.

Nowadays, for preservation of the ozone layer, the law requires to properly dispose of CFC, which was once widely used. If you still keep old car, air-conditioner, or refrigerator, you need to be careful when you scrap it because it may contain harmful CFC. Your carelessness may cause ecological destruction. Let's make a start for eco-activism.