NHM Health Focus:
UV Safety
July 2009
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About UV and UV Exposure
UV and Your Eyes
UV and Your Skin
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July is UV Safety Month. Hats, sunglasses, sunscreen and protective clothing
are all recommended as protection against excessive ultraviolet
radiation (UV).
Do you know why you need this protection? The
answer is that while small amounts of UV are essential for the production
of Vitamin
D, excessive UV may result in acute and chronic health effects on
the skin, eye and immune system. (WHO)
But there are other UV-related issues that you should be aware of.
For example, in addition to causing cancer, cataracts, and other potentially
threatening health problems, the photochemical effects of UV radiation
can be "exacerbated by chemical agents including birth control
pills, tetracycline, sulphathizole, cyclamates, antidepressants, coal
tar distillates found in antidandruff shampoos, lime oil, and some cosmetics."
Health Physics
Society.
By giving yourself a short refresher course in the dangers of UV and
taking a few simple precautions, you can greatly reduce your risk of
sun-related illnesses. The following steps
are recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC)
and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that, "If you must be in the sun, use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15, even on cloudy days." (AAD)
Access Excellence @ the National Health Museum has
these resources related to the UV Safety:
Health Headquarters: Question of the Week - Indoor Tanning
Health Headquarters: Question of the Week - Eye
Safety
Health Headquarters: Question of the Week -
Sunlight: the Good and the Bad
Health Headquarters: Health Focus -
National Public Health Week
Activities Exchange: Fellows Collection -
Teaching Biology through Problem-Based Activities
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