wEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Air and Radiation
(6205J)
EPA430-F-99-033
November 1999
www.epa.gov
to the
Monitor
h i to r
An Update on EPA's SunWise School Program
by Bob Perciasepe, Assistant Administrator for Air and
Radiation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
& el come to the Since 1996, CFCs and other
I first issue of the ozone-depleting substances
1^^ I SunWise Monitor! have been banned from
Ielcome to the
first issue of the
SunWise Monitor!
Through the
Monitor, EPA will share
important information
about the SunWise School
Program and sun protec-
tion with participating
Partner Schools and com-
munities across the coun-
try. The SunWise Program
is designed to teach
schoolchildren and their
caregivers how to avoid
overexposure to the sun.
SunWise is already under
way in more than 100
pilot schools and is
preparing for a national
launch in Fall 2000.
Why is EPA championing
sun safety today? Many of
us are becoming more
aware of our impact on the
environment, but some
might not realize that the
consequences of human
behavior stretch far beyond
Earths surface.
Years ago, you probably
didn't think twice about
using an aerosol spray or
turning on an air-condi-
tioner in your car or home.
Back then, we didn't know
that the chlorofluo-
rocarbons (CFCs)
released from these
products deplete the
ozone layer, which absorbs
the sun's harmful ultraviolet
(UV) radiation.
new production in the
United States and other
developed countries, but it
will still take years to repair
the damage already inflict-
ed on the ozone layer. In
the meantime, increased
levels of harmful UV radia-
tion are likely to reach the
Earth, causing skin cancer,
cataracts, immune suppres-
sion, and other health
effects. Already, skin cancer
is the most common form
of cancer in the United
States, with more than one
million cases reported
annually.
In this time of increased
risk, EPAs SunWise School
Program is an important
tool for the protection of
our health and the health
of our children.
On behalf of EPA, I would
like to thank you for your
continued support of this
vital program. Through
our combined efforts,
SunWise will play an inte-
gral role in assuring the
health and awareness of
children and caregivers.
re you keeping yourself and your
children safe in the sun? The sun-
safety tips below are the cornerstone
of the SunWise School Program and
a good way for anyone to reduce the risk of
UV-related health damage. Other than staying
indoors, no single step can fully protect you
from overexposure to UV radiation, so follow as
many of the action steps as possible.
Limit Time in the Midday Sun
The sun's rays are strongest between
10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Whenever possible, limit
exposure to the sun during these hours.
Wear Sunglasses That Block 99 to 100
Percent of UV Radiation
Sunglasses that provide 99 to 100 percent
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 for your eyes, ears, face, and the
back of your neck—areas particularly prone to
overexposure to the sun.
Seek Shade
Staying under cover is one of the best ways to
protect yourself from the sun. Remember the
shadow rule: "Watch Your Shadow—No
Shadow, Seek Shade."
Cover Up
Wearing tightly woven, loose-fitting, and full-
length clothing is a good way to protect your
skin from the sun's UV rays.
Always Use Sunscreen
Apply sunscreen liberally on exposed skin and
reapply every 2 hours when working or playing
outdoors. Even waterproof sunscreen can
come off when you towel off sweat or water.
Watch for the UV Index
The UV Index provides important information
to help you plan your outdoor activities in
ways that prevent overexposure to the sun.
Developed by the National Weather Service
(NWS) and EPA, the UV Index is issued daily in
selected cities across the United States.
Avoid Sunlamps and Tanning Salons
The light source from sunbeds and sunlamps
damages the skin and unprotected eyes. It's a
good idea to avoid artificial sources of UV light.
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SunWise Monitor
Mot
In
on't believe everything you hear! An e-mail story
disseminated widely this past spring claimed that
waterproof sunscreen causes blindness in numer-
ous children every year. Neither the American
Academy of Ophthalmology the Poison Control Center,
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), nor any
sunscreen manufacturers, have ever heard of a person
being blinded by sunscreen.
The most severe eye injury that sunscreen could cause is
an abrasion of the surface of the eye, which could result
in moderate discomfort during the healing process but
no long-term effects. If sunscreen does get in the eye, the
Academy suggests rinsing with water and seeing an eye
doctor if the pain does not subside.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, a
person receives approximately 80 percent of his or her
lifetime sun exposure by the age of 18. Preventing over-
exposure in childhood by following the action steps for
sun protection, therefore, is essential to preventing skin
cancer later in life. (See "Take Action," p.l.) ®
Read about SunWise in action! The following
SunWise stories from students and teachers ir
Jkop
f unscreen already
tops the shopping
list of any SunWise
J consumer. Now,
new labeling changes aim
to help shoppers make a
more informed decision
on sun protection.
In May 1999, FDA finalized
labeling requirements for
over-the-counter sunscreen
products. While the regula-
tions call for the discontin-
uation of terms that might
be misleading, such as
"sunblock," or "water-
proof," the most important
label change will be the
appearance of PDAs three
new sun protection cate-
Look fair
Label;
gories. Devised to help con-
sumers choose the right
SPF level for their needs,
the optional rankings will
appear as follows:
• Minimal—SPF levels
from 2 to below 12.
• Moderate—SPF levels
from 12 to below 30.
• High—SPF levels of 30
and higher.
Specific SPF numbers will
continue to appear on
product labels, though the
highest category will be
"30+" for values above 30.
Under these new labeling
regulations, you'll also
f tudents in Glendora, California,
)are using technology to explore
the science behind SunWise.
Greg Morrison's science class at
Goddard Middle School uses many
tools, including the Internet, CD-
ROMs, videos, and laboratory experi-
ments to collect, report, and analyze
UV-related data. In a favorite class
activity, students use hand-held UV
monitors, available from EPA, to
measure the intensity of UV rays at
ground level. After gathering these
start seeing a "sun alert"
statement on products dis-
cussing the important role
of sunscreen in overall
sun-related health protec-
tion. Products that won't
screen out the sun's harm-
ful rays must be marked as
well. Labels on tanning
lotions, which do not con-
tain sunscreen, must fea-
ture a warning about their
lack of protection against
sun exposure.
For more information
on PDAs new regulations,
consult its Web site at
. ®
data, the students can up.
results to the SunWise W
With the help of the local
Club's Teacher Mini Grant
Morrison runs another po
ment using UV-sensitive b
students about the sun's U
the effects of UV radiation
skin and health. Outside,
observe the beads changir
light colors to darker colo:
spending to the strength c
UV rays. The students the:
For more informatic
Mary Ann Moore
Brownstown Middle
20135 Inkster Road
Brownstown, Ml 48
matuckermoore@nt
TiT/G? I ft
Held meetings with community plan-
ning teams. Began promoting
SunWise School Program to teachers
Conceived SunWise Schoo
Program.
Examined other sun protection programs and
developed tenets of SunWise School Program
Spring 1997
with stakeholder
Drming meetma
Mid 1998
Partnered with a number of health and weather
organizations and held stakeholder meeting to
develop and implement SunWise School Program.
Winter 1!
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re
articles share some exciting
partner schools across the country.
load their
eb site.
Rotary
Program,
pular experi-
eads to teach
V rays and
on human
students
ig from clear,
rs, corre-
)f the sun's
n examine
and record the effectiveness of different
types of sun protection, covering the
beads with sunscreens of various SPF
levels, sunglasses, wet and dry cloth-
ing, and plastic.
In addition, Morrison uses video
tapes of national newscasts about the
ozone layer, which further demon-
strate the scope and breadth of the
subject. All these sun-science activi-
ties and students' work are featured
on Morrison's class Web site,
. (§)
For more information:
Greg Morrison
Goddard Middle School
859 E. Sierra Madre
Glendora, CA 91741
gm@morrisonlabs.com
ife Field Pay
an:
i School
174
stscape.
se seventh graders in Brownstown, Michigan, took
the sting out of an annual school event by encouraging
fellow students to practice sun-safe behavior. Every June
at Brownstown Middle School, students spend a "field
day" competing in outdoor events. Unfortunately, just as field
day was a Brownstown tradition, so were the many sun-
burned students in school the following Monday.
This year was different, however, thanks to the SunWise
School Program and the students in 6th grade and the 7th
grade health classes. As participants in the SunWise pilot, the
students launched a sun-safe campaign for the field day,
encouraging their schoolmates to use sunscreen, hats, and
sunglasses during the event. To spread the safety message, the
classes created posters to hang in the school's hallways and
asked local businesses to donate sunscreen for the students to
use on the field day. According to Mary Ann Moore, the 7th
grade teacher, there were no occurrences of severe sunburns
at this year's field day.
ne The Brownstown students put their SunWise knowledge
into practice again this past Arbor Day when they planted
3-foot oak saplings on the school grounds. Eventually, these
trees will provide protective shade for students participating
in outdoor activities.
Hit
tudents at Medway Middle
School in Medway,
Massachusetts, witnessed
first-hand the effects of
overexposure to the sun. They
remember seeing teacher Cheryl
Cook walking the halls after her
reconstructive facial surgery due to
skin cancer.
"Due to the size and placement of
the tumor, I was quite a sight. Even
kids who weren't in my class knew
who I was," explained Cook. "That's
why my efforts to educate kids about
the sun have been so successful; they
don't want what happened to me to
happen to them."
Cook — along with her teaching assistant
Maureen Leighton — has incorporated
numerous SunWise activities into the
lessons of her two seventh-grade classes.
In addition to using many of the ideas
provided by the SunWise School Program,
she invented "SunWise Bingo" and has
helped students develop skits, posters,
commercials, and songs about sun protec-
tion. One skit was called "Sizzle News," and
another took the form of a talk show with
special guest "U.T. Violet."
Cook's students volunteer each day to take
measurements of UV intensity outside, and
post results twice a day on a bulletin board.
She also encourages the Weather Service Club
to announce the UV Index each morning.
As a culminating activity for the 1998-1999
school year, Cook created a video documenting
students' performances and creative initiatives.
"I am pleased to be part of the SunWise pro-
gram," she says, "because it is a good life lesson
for my students."
For more information:
Cheryl Cook
Medway Middle School
45 Hofflston Street, Medway, MA 02053
508 533-7654 ext. 5328
Conducted pilot testing
(phase I) with 25 participat-
ing schools.
Hold press event to announce debut of
SunWise School Program across the country
Evaluated SunWise progress to date and
make improvements to the program.
September 1999 to June 2000
induct pilot testing (phase
0 participatinq schools.
.epa.govsunwise
Fall 2000
-Toqram natioi
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SunWise Monitor
REJOURCB
Looking for more information on the SunWise
School Program, general sun safety, or the sci-
ence behind UV radiation and the ozone layer?
Check out the many electronic and print resources
EPA makes available to the public free of charge.
SunWise School Program
Internet Learning Site
www. epa. go v/s unwise
An excellent source for
information on the
SunWise School Program,
this Web site includes gen-
eral information on ozone
depletion, UV radiation,
UV health effects, and sun-
safety tips. The site also
includes an online registra-
tion form for joining the
SunWise Program, as well
as links to other informa-
tive educational sites.
Students and teachers can
currently use the site to
report and interpret daily
measurements of UV data.
As the SunWise Program
develops, additional fea-
tures and activities,
including games and
experiments, will be added
to the site.
SunWise School
Program Guide
This guide provides infor-
mation about the SunWise
School Program, details
how to become a Partner
school, describes tools
available to Partner
schools, and explains how
the program will be evalu-
ated. The guide may be
downloaded as a 322K
Adobe Acrobat (PDF
Format) file from the
SunWise School Program
Web site (see address
above). To order a hard
copy of the guide, contact
EPAs Stratospheric Ozone
Information Hotline at
800 296-1996. For addi-
tional information, contact
Linda Rutsch of the
SunWise School
Program at
202 564-2261.
- Safety
Hie Sun, UV, and You: A
Guide to SunWise Behavior
This newly updated book-
let presents the science
behind UV radiation and
stratospheric ozone and the
health risks associated with
overexposure to the sun. It
also provides steps for pro-
tecting yourself and your
children, defines the UV
Index, and provides a list
of additional resources.
For more information
or to obtain copies of
these resources, visit the
SunWise Web site at
or contact Kevin Rosseel
of EPA at 202 564-9731.
SunWise Fact Sheets
A number of short, inform-
ative factsheets also are
available:
• Health Effects of
Overexposure to the Sun
• Action Steps for Sun
Protection
• Ozone Depletion
• Ultraviolet Radiation
Kids Komer
Teachers and their SunWise
students are invited to
submit articles about their
activities, story ideas, art-
work, and sun-safety proj-
ect ideas to be featured in
future issues of the SunWise
Monitor. You can send
materials to Linda Rutsch
at
or U.S. EPA (Mailcode
6205J), 401M Street,
SW, Washington, DC
20460.
The SunWise School Program is an Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community Tracking (EMPACT) project.
«»EPA
United States
Environmental Protection Agency
(6205J)
Washington, DC 20460
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use
$300
> Printed on paper that contains at least 30 percent postconsumer fiber.
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