APES Atmospheric Pollution Practice Test 2026 – Complete Exam Preparation

Decreased stratospheric ozone allows more UV-B radiation to reach Earth's surface. UV-B damages DNA in skin cells and raises the risk of skin cancers such as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. While a little UV exposure is needed to make vitamin D, the health impact of ozone loss is dominated by higher cancer risk, not a beneficial change; the idea of decreased UV exposure is incorrect because ozone loss increases UV reaching the surface, and there are indeed health effects beyond just conceptual notes—cancer risk being the prominent one.