NATION IN BRIEF : WASHINGTON, D.C. : Antarctic Ozone Takes Deep Dip

NASA officials said satellite measurements have found that depletion of ozone in the stratosphere over the South Pole has equaled the record level that scientists found in 1987. Scientists monitoring the data said that ozone density over the Antarctic has declined about 45% since early August, a drop of about 1.5% a day, with the record low matched on Oct. 5. Ozone can block much of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation, thought to be a major cause of skin cancer. Depletion of the ozone is thought to be increased by the interaction of certain man-made chemicals.