Impact of Ultraviolet Radiation on Humans

Abstract

Solar radiation, including its ultraviolet (UV) compo nents, is a key factor in life on earth. While small quanti ties of UV are beneficial for people (for example, through the production of vitamin D), the considerable amount to which people sometimes expose themselves may have extremely noxious effects including actinic erythema, sunburn, photo-induced diseases, photo-worsened dis eases, actinic ageing and skin cancers. Since the last cen tury, human exposure to UV has increased either by social-behaviour modifications, or by anthropogenic dis ruption to the environment through, among other things, industrial development. The World Health Organisa tion's (WHO) INTERSUN programme has several com ponents: action for reconstruction of the ozone layer through, for example, preventing dumping of chloro fluorocarbons; creation and popularisation of a global UV Index; prevention campaigns underlining the risks from UV exposure including dissemination of informa tion to daily newspapers. These are all aimed at reducing the amount of UV radiation that people receive. In addi tion the WHO advises against exposure to UV artificial sources to reduce overall the quantity of UV received.