Posted on 07/27/2006 6:46:58 PM PDT by traumer
As many as 60,000 people a year die from too much sun, warns the World Health Organization.
The bulk of the deaths are from skin cancers caused by excess exposure to the sun's harmful rays, ultraviolet radiation, says WHO.
UVR also causes sunburn, triggers cold sores and ages the skin, according to its report, the first to outline the global health burden of sun exposure.
Simple measures, such as covering up when in the sun, could cut the deaths.
Death toll
Dr Maria Neira, Director for Public Health and the Environment at WHO, said: "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."
WAYS TO AVOID TOO MUCH SUN Limit time in the midday sun Wear protective clothing including hats and sunglasses Use sunscreen of sun protection factor 15+ Avoid sunlamps and tanning parlours Source: World Health Organization Of the 60,000 deaths, 48,000 are caused by malignant melanomas and 12,000 by other skin cancers, the report Global Burden of Disease of Solar Ultraviolet Radiation estimates.
More than 1.5 million "disability-adjusted life years" or DALYS - a measure of the loss of full functioning due to disease and death - are lost every year due to sun exposure, WHO believes.
WHO and the World Tourism Organization of the United Nations are urging people to be extra-vigilant when out in the sun to protect themselves from UVR
Everyone is exposed to UVR from the sun. Small amounts are beneficial to health, and play an essential role in the production of vitamin D by the skin. However, overexposure to UVR is associated with a variety of serious and deadly health problems.
Harmful rays
UVR levels vary with the time of day and year. Levels are highest when the sun is higher in the sky, typically between 10am and 2pm.
Latitude and altitude also alter exposure. The closer to equatorial regions and the higher the altitude, the higher the UVR exposure.
Similarly, the ground you walk on can be important. Grass, soil and water reflect less than 10% of UVR, fresh snow reflects as much as 80%, dry beach sand about 15% and sea foam about 25%.
UVR can neither be seen nor felt, therefore, UVR measurements, such as the global solar UV index, are necessary to determine precisely the extent of ground level UVR. These add up all the solar UVR, taking account of its ability to cause skin damage.
The higher the UV index, the higher the risk of skin and eye damage. When the UV Index predicts radiation levels of 3 (moderate) or above, sun safety practices should be taken, WHO recommends.
Laura-Jane Armstrong, cancer information officer at Cancer Research UK, said: "This report provides clear evidence of the dangers of over-exposure to the sun, highlighting the number of global deaths from skin cancer and other risks the sun can pose to our health.
"Our key message is not to burn. To help protect yourself in the sun you should spend time in the shade during the middle of the day, cover up with a shirt and hat, and use factor 15+ sunscreen."
This is soooooo frightening!!!!!! WHO would have thought that something as benign as the sun could harm you. We need a new law keeping people indoor during the day.
Crap! And I had a fiver on the moon!
Well thats it. I for one am done with the sun. Far too many people have become addicted to this sun object, and I want answers. At my next town council meeting I am going to put forward a proposal to ban this sun. I want whatever entity, no doubt some evil corporation, that is behind this monstrous sun to be sued for damages as well. We must do this for the children. I know I will be speaking truth to power about this sun from today forward.
Aha... a business opportunity again...
If they think the sun is bad now, wait until it expands to a red giant when it's hydrogen fuel gets depleted.
ban sunlight! pass a congressional bill prohibiting the sun from shining to much because it is a deadly thing
The heat-death of the Universe is a troubling prospect, but rather than quiver before the prospect of an always impending doom, I'll stick with the cowboy's philosophy:
"I eat when I'm hungry, I drink when I'm dry;
If a tree don't fall on me, I'll live 'til I die."
Dang! You beat me to it!
Down with the sun!!!
Bingo. Cancer deaths are inversely related to sun exposure. People in northerly climes die more readily of cancer due to lack of sun. Vitamin D deficiency is the likely culprit, enough of which cannot reliably be absorbed from food. Gotta get 10-15 minutes of full sun exposure (i.e. not a lot) per day to get enough.
In Fargo, that means the tanning bed on low for about 8 minutes three times a week in the winter. That's all the time I can muster. No tan, but cures what ails ya!
http://www.dentalplans.com/Dental-Health-Articles/Sun-exposure-reduces-cancer-and-disease.asp
Well, if I do that how am I going to get a tan?
Some earth scientists have recently claimed that particular matter added to the fuel of jet airplanes would increase the high haze by as little as 10%, blocking out all harmful rays. The cost would be about 100 million a year and the problem would be solved.
"Sun kills 60,000 a year, says WHO"
Well, there you go. And when it blows up the casualties will double, maybe triple.
No, the earth is many times worse than the sun, killing millions of people each year. How? They fall to earth and die, they hit their head on it, rocks fall from it and hit people, snow slides down it onto people and so on. Yes, the earth is a vicious killer.
Earth is a quagmire-we must pull out immediately!;)
Oh sure, you can all laugh and joke about this, but this is series.
THINK OF THE CHILDREN!
All lies. Too much sun never hurt anybody. This whole article was a left-wing attempt to get us afraid of our sun, and a feeble attempt to get us to accept Gore's ideas. The whole darn article was political.
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