[phantomworker]

The only thing is what about reports about the ozone layer in South America and Australia? Is it just hype or is it really happening that humans are starting to need to use more sunscreen etc to adapt to more UV radiation?

http://www.recyclingpoint.com.sg/Articles/20Oct2000Life_under_the.htm

[GreenFreeper]

ECO-PING

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ahh, the beauty of genetic variability!

[CarolinaGuitarman]

Gloriously Ironic Post Placemarker

[metmom]

I haven't been following the ozone layer issue recently. That seems to have fallen by the wayside with the global warming. We covered it in my meteorology classes some years ago. What I remember from that is that ozone depletion is occurring and one of problems aside from the increased risk of skin cancer is that as more UV gets through the atmosphere, it can increase the formation of ozone at the lower levels of the atmosphere. That can create it's own problems, especially in cities where there are smog alerts. The ozone is very irritating and can cause problems in people with lung conditions like asthma. It's also somewhat corrosive and causes things to deteriorate more quickly. While the article states that manmade ozone depleting chemicals are leveling off, it doesn't state that whether or not the ozone layer is still being depleted.

I've read several articles that vitamin D is actually preventive against some kinds of cancers including skin cancer. This has caused a real dilemma for those who advocate lots of sunscreen. Here's the link to an article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7875140/ I imagine that if I lived there where there was little or no protection against UV from the ozone layer, I would be more careful, too. But up here in the north, I don't worry about it. Between the clouds and staying indoors for so much of the winter, I don't think we're exposed to enough during the rest of the year to worry about, but that's just my opinion.