vvEPA
UNITED STATES
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
AIR AND RADIATION
6205J
EPA 430-F-95-003
JANUARY 1995
                                HEALTH  EFFECTS  OF
                               OVEREXPOSURE TO THE SUN
                                                                          UVIN
                    N-
    Americans love the sun, and spend increasing amounts of time outside — working, playing, exercising
— often in clothing that exposes a lot of skin to the sun. Most people are now aware that too much sun
has been linked to skin cancer, but few know the degree of risk posed by overexposure, and fewer are
aware that the risks go beyond skin cancer. Recent medical research has shown that overexposure to the
sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation can contribute to serious health problems.
    This fact sheet provides a quick overview of the major problems linked to UV exposure: skin cancer
(melanoma and non-melanoma), other skin problems, cataracts, and immune system suppression.
Understanding these risks and taking a few sensible precautions (described in other UV Index fact sheets)
will help you to enjoy the sun while lowering your chances- of sun-related health problems later in life.

MELANOMA
    Melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, is also one of the fastest growing types of cancer
in the U.S. Many dermatologists believe that there may be a link between childhood sunburns and
malignamt melanoma later in life. Melanoma cases in this country have almost doubled in the past-two
decades,  with at least 32,000 new cases of melanoma and 6,900 deaths estimated for 1994 alone. The
rise in melanoma cases and deaths in America is expected to continue.

        CURE RATE
           Melanoma can spread to other parts of the body quickly, but when detected in its earliest
        stages it is almost always curable.  If not caught early, melanoma is often fatal.

        WHAT TO WATCH FOR
           Melanoma begins as an uncontrolled growth of pigment-producing cells in the skin. This
        growth leads to the formation of dark-pigmented malignant moles or tumors, called melanomas.
        Melanomas may suddenly appear without warning, but may also develop from or near a mole.
        For that reason it is important to know the location and appearance of moles on the body so
        any change will be noticed. Melanomas are found most frequently on the upper-backs of men
        and women, and the legs of women, but can occur anywhere on the body.
           Be aware of any unusual skin condition, especially a change in the size or color of a mole
        or other darkly or irregularly pigmented growth or spot; scaliness, oozing,  bleeding or change
        in the appearance of a bump or nodule; spread of pigment from the border into surrounding
        skin; and change in sensation including itchiness, tenderness, or pain.

NON-MELANOMA SKIN CANCERS
    Unlike melanoma, non-melanoma skin cancers are rarely fatal. Nevertheless, they should not be taken
lightly. Untreated, they can spread, causing more serious health problems. An estimated 900,000 Americans
develof>ed non-melanoma skin cancers in 1994, while 1,200 died from the disease.

    There are two primary types of non-melanoma skin cancers:

        Basal Cell Carcinomas are tumors of the skin which usually appear as small, fleshy  bumps
        or nodules on the head  and neck, but can occur on other skin areas as well. It is the most
        common skin cancer found among fair-skinned people. Basal cell carcinoma does not grow
        quickly, and rarely spreads to other parts of the body. However, it can penetrate below the
        skin to the bone and cause considerable local damage.
        Squamous Cell Carcinomas are tumors which may appear as nodules or  as red, scaly patches.
        The second most common skin cancer found in fair-skinned people, squamous cell carcinoma
        is rarely found in darker-skinned people. This cancer can develop into large masses, and
        unlike basal cell carcinoma, it can spread to other parts of the body.                 '

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        CURE RATE
        These two non-melanoma skin cancers have high cure rates — as high as 95 percent if detect-
        ed and treated early. The key is to watch for signs and to detect the cancer in its early stages.

        WHAT TO WATCH  FOR
        Basal cell carcinoma tumors usually appear as slowly growing, raised, translucent, pearly
        nodules which, if untreated, may crust, discharge pus, and sometimes bleed. Squamous cell
        carcinomas usually are raised, red or pink scaly nodules or wart-like growths that form pus
        in the center.  They typically develop on the edge of the ears, the face, lips, mouth,  hands
        and other exposed areas of the body.

ACTINIC KERATOSES
    These sun-induced skin growths occur on body areas exposed to the sun. The face, hands, fore-
arms and the "V" of the neck are especially susceptible to this type of blemish. They are pre-malignant,
but left untreated, actinic keratoses can become malignant. Look for raised, reddish, rough-textured
growths. See a dermatologist promptly if you notice these growths.

PHOTOAGING
    Chronic exposure  to the sun causes changes in the  skin called actinic, or solar, degeneration.
The skin over time becomes thick, wrinkled, and leathery. This condition has often been referred to
as "premature aging" of the skin. Since it occurs gradually, often manifesting itself many years after
the majority of a person's exposure to the  sun, photoaging is often regarded as an unavoidable
condition, a normal pan of growing older. With proper protection from UV radiation, however,
photoaging can be substantially avoided.

CATARACTS AND  OTHER EYE DAMAGE
    Cataracts are a form of eye damage, a loss of transparency in the lens which clouds, vision.
Left untreated, cataracts can rob people of vision. Research has shown that UV radiation increases
the likelihood of certain cataracts. Although curable with modem eye  surgery, cataracts diminish
the eyesight of millions of Americans, and necessitate millions of dollars of eye surgery each year.
Other kinds of eye damage include:  pterygium (tissue growth on the white of the eye that can
block vision), skin cancer around the eyes, and degeneration of the macula (the part of the retina
near the center,  where  visual perception is most acute).  All of these problems could  be lessened
with proper eye protection  from UV  radiation.

IMMUNE SUPPRESSION
    Scientists have found that sunburn can alter the distribution and function of disease-fighting
white blood cells in humans for up to 24 hours after exposure to the sun. Repeated  exposure to
UV radiation may cause more long-lasting damage to the body's immune system. Mild sunburns can
directly suppress the immune functions of human skin where the sunburn occurred, even in people
with dark skin.

ABOUT THE  UV INDEX...
    The UV Index, developed by the National Weather  Service and the Environmental Protection
Agency, provides a forecast of the expected risk of overexposure to the sun and indicates the degree
of caution you should  take when working, playing, or exercising outdoors. The UV Index predicts
exposure levels  on a 0 -10+ scale, where 0 indicates a low risk of overexposure, and 10+ means a
very high risk of overexposure. Calculated on a next-day basis for dozens of cities across the U.S. by
the National Weather Service, the UV Index takes into account clouds and other local conditions that
affect the amount of UV radiation reaching the ground in different parts of the country.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
    To learn more about the UV Index and how to protect yourself from overexposure to the sun's
UV rays, call EPA's Stratospheric Ozone Hotline at (800) 296-1996. Hotline staff can supply you with
other fact sheets in this series, as well as other useful information.

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vvEPA
UNITED STATES
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
AIR AND RADIATION
6205J
EPA 430-F-95-002
JANUARY 1995
                                                                        UV INDEX
ACTION
STEPS   FOR
SUN  PROTECTION
                       TOO MUCH SUNLIGHT CAN BE DANGEROUS....
                          Being outside on a warm, sunny day is one of life's great pleasures, but getting too much sun
                       can be dangerous. Excessive sun exposure an result in painful sunburn, but can also lead to other .
                       serious health problems, including melanoma, a life-threatening form of skin cancer. Melanoma is one
                       of the fastest growing forms of cancer in the U.S. New melanoma cases in the U.S. have more than
                       doubled over the past two decades, with an estimated 6,900 American deaths from the disease in 1994.
                       In addition to melanoma, excessive UV exposure can lead to premature aging of the skin, cataracts,
                       non-melanoma skin cancers, and immune system suppression.
                       BE SUN WISE
                          Protecting yourself from overexposure to UV radiation is simple:

                                     WEAR SUNGLASSES THAT BLOCK 99-100% OF UV RADIATION .
                                     Sunglasses that provide 99-100% UVA and UVB protection will greatly reduce
                                     sun exposure that can lead to cataracts and other eye damage. Check the label
                                     when buying sunglasses.

                                     WEAR A HAT
                                     A hat with a wide brim offers good sun protection to your eyes, ears, face, and
                                     the back of your neck — areas particularly prone to overexposure to the sun.

                                     PROTECT OTHER AREAS OF YOUR BODY WITH CLOTHING DURING
                                     PROLONGED PERIODS IN THE SUN
                                     Tightly-woven, loose-fitting clothes are best, but any clothing is better than
                                     none at all.
                                     ALWAYS USE A SUNSCREEN WHEN OUTSIDE ON A SUNNY DAY
                                     A sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 blocks most
                                     harmful UV radiation. Apply sunscreen liberally and reapply every two hours
                                     when working, playing, or exercising outdoors. Even waterproof sunscreen
                                     can come off when you towel off sweat or water.

                                     AVOID THE MIDDAY SUN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
                                     The sun's UV rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. To the extent you
                                     can, limit exposure to the sun during these hours.
                                     AVOID SUNLAMPS AND TANNING PARLORS
                                     Sunbeds damage the skin and unprotected eyes and are best avoided entirely.

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                 UV INDEX   WATCH FOR THE UV INDEX
                                     The UV Index, developed by the National Weather Service and the Environmental
                                     Protection Agency, provides a forecast of the expected risk of overexposure to
                                     the sun and indicates the degree of caution you should take when working, play-
                                     ing, or exercising outdoors, the UV Index predicts exposure  levels on a 0 -10+
                                    • scale, where 0 indicates a low risk of overexposure, and 10+  means a very high '
                                     risk of overexposure. Calculated on a next-day basis for dozens of cities across
                                     the U.S. by the National Weather Service, the UV Index takes into account clouds
                                     and other local conditions that affect the amount of UV radiation reaching the
                                     ground in different parts of the country.

                 FOR MORE INFORMATION
                     To learn more about the UV Index, call EPA's Stratospheric Ozone Hotline at  (800) 296-19%.
                 Hotline staff can supply you with other fact sheets in this series, as well as other useful information.
' CATEGORY

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