Image from Little Sun Flowers www.littlesunflowers.com
Due to its geographical location, Australia has an extremely high level of ultra violet (UV) radiation exposure which explains why it has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. It is important to understand how UV radiation affects us in order to avoid this widespread disease. Though outdoor activities can bring us much pleasure physically and mentally, they should be planned carefully, in a way that protect our skin and well-being.
UV rays, a kind of solar emission that are potentially dangerous are invisible to naked eyes. There are three types of UV radiation: UVA, UVB and UVC. UVC is absorbed by the ozone layer and never reaches the earth. UVA causes skin aging and wrinkles and can also damage outdoor plastic and paint. UVB is the more dangerous form, as it can cause skin cancer, cataracts and weakening of the immune system, as well as reducing the growth of plants, and affecting animals’ life.
Skin cancer can take between 10-30 years to develop that fortunately, there are ways to deal with UV to minimise the risk. When going out, it is advisable to wear loose dark-coloured clothing, a wide-brimmed hat, as well as wrap-around sunglasses, and importantly to apply a minimum of SPF-30 sunscreen to our skin, paying special attention to the ears and neck. Sunscreen needs to be re-applied every two hours to ensure effectiveness, and it is advisable to stay indoors between 8:15AM to 4:20PM, when UV is the most active.
For further information, go to the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (Arpansa) website for UV forecast to avoid going out during UV active hours. Arpansa displays the latest UV levels on its website. Some people mistakenly think that there is less UV radiation on overcast days or when the temperatures are slightly cooler. In fact, the amount of UV radiation that people are exposed to is still the same. Therefore, it is essential to cover up even when it is not sunny. As glass is not prevention against UV radiation, therefore one should stay away from the sunlight when indoors or inside the car or bus.
Children, the most vulnerable group due to their delicate skin and their love of outdoor activities, should be educated to be sun-smart. Durack State School in Inala has a motto: “No hat, no play” to encourage children wear the school uniform wide-brimmed hats. While we cannot change the environment of the place in which we live, we can alter our behaviour to effectively protect ourselves.
One Trackback/Pingback
[...] in Health Though skin cancer is widespread in Brisbane, Australia, the local people generally do not take care to protect their [...]