Posted on 08/01/2006 8:51:39 AM PDT by SheLion
As many as 60,000 people a year die from too much sun, mostly from malignant skin cancer, the World Health Organization reported...
As many as 60,000 people a year die from too much sun, mostly from malignant skin cancer, the World Health Organization reported on Wednesday.
It found that 48,000 deaths every year are caused by malignant melanomas, and 12,000 by other kinds of skin cancer. About 90 percent of such cancers are caused by ultraviolet light from the sun.
Radiation from the sun also causes often serious sunburn, skin aging, eye cataracts, pterygium -- a fleshy growth on the surface of the eye -- cold sores and other ills, according to the report, the first to detail the global effects of sun exposure.
"We all need some sun, but too much sun can be dangerous -- and even deadly. Fortunately, diseases from UV such as malignant melanomas, other skin cancers and cataracts are almost entirely preventable through simple protective measures," Dr. Maria Neira, Director for Public Health and the Environment at WHO, said in a statement.
Ultraviolet light is needed to activate production of vitamin D in the body, which prevents rickets, osteomalacia and osteoporosis. It may also affect some cancers and immune disorders.
The report, available on the Internet at http://www.who.int/uv, advises that people seek shade, use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, and stay out of tanning salons.
"The application of sunscreens should not be used to prolong sun exposure but rather to protect the skin when exposure is unavoidable," the report advises.
Snow, sand and sea foam reflect ultraviolet light, the report notes, and thinning ozone filters out less and less of it.
"Ultraviolet radiation can neither be seen nor felt," the study noted. Time of day, latitude and cloud cover all affect the amount of radiation reaching the ground.
"A person's skin type is also important. Fair skinned people suffer from sunburn much more readily than dark-skinned people," WHO said in a statement.
But it detailed ill effects from too much sun around the globe, especially cataracts in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
Best we all live deep underground from now on. Nature is killing us!
We need to pull out of the earth - it is a quagmire!
"Ultraviolet radiation can neither be seen nor felt," the study noted."
Not true.
You'll see it and feel it right after you get a nasty burn from being in the sun too long!
Been there. Done that.
I guess that this means we shouldn't quit smoking because the sun's gonna fry us all anyway?
Cool!
Well, that settles it. Get rid of the sun and we'll all live forever.
We are all going to DIE! It's all Bush' fault! This would of never happened if John Kerry were President!
What BS..........everyone knows that the only cause of cancer death is the epidemic of smoking and SHS.........../sarc
Yeah, Who sez?????????
Outlaw the sun.
Yes, let's enjoy what little time we have left!
Here comes the giant Kyoto Umbrella project, involving NASA and billions and billlions and billions of dollars to implement. Al Gore will lead the way, as soon as someone tells him what to do.
Living too long kills millions a year, big deal!
How many are killed by second-hand sun?
Look for lawsuits coming soon against Big Sun.
If we sent more polutants into the air, the atmosphere would reflect more of the suns harmful rays and no one would get cancer.
I researched this extensively.
Sarcasm
Well, I guess they'll tax the hell out of coppertone now.
The #1 cause of death is: LIFE. You can't change rule #1, so enjoy your life while you got it, and tell all the busy bodies where they can stick their agendas.
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