S u n W  i s e
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    2008  SunWise  Conference  Schedule
       April 4, 2008
       April 8-12, 2008

       May 3-4, 2008
       June 28- July 1,2008
       July 1-3, 2008
       July 15-16,2008
       Oct. 14-18,2008
       Oct. 26-29, 2008
         Ohio Association of School Nurses
         American Alliance for Health, Physical Education,
         Recreation, & Dance
         New England School Nurse Conference
         National Association of School Nurses
         National Education Association
         Kansas School Nurse Organization
         National Recreation and Parks Association
         American Public Health Association Expo
       Oct. 30 - Nov. 1, 2008    National Middle School Association
       Oct. 30- Nov. 1,2008
       Nov. 20-22, 2008
       Dec. 4-6, 2008
         National Science Teachers Association (Regional Conference)
         National Science Teachers Association (Regional Conference)
         National Science Teachers Association (Regional Conference)
OASN      Huron, OH
AAHPERD   Fort Worth, TX
NESNC     Newport, Rl
NASN      Albuquerque, Nl\
NEA       Washington, DC
KSNO      Wichita, KS
NRPA      Baltimore, MD
APHA      San Diego, CA
NMSA     Denver, CO
NSTA      Charlotte, NC
NSTA      Portland, OR
NSTA      Cincinnati, OH
          United States
          Environmental Protection
          Agency
          1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW (6205J)
          Washington, DC 20460

          Official Buisness
          Penalty for Private Use ($300)

          EPA430-N-08-001
          April 2008
                                                                               PRESORTED STANDARD
                                                                               POSTAGE & FEES PAID
                                                                               EPA
                                                                               PERMIT NO. G-35
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VOTE  FOR YOUR FAVORITE SUN SAFETY
POSTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A PRIZE!

Even if you missed the deadline for the "Limit the Sun, Not
the Fun" 2008 SHADE Poster Contest, co-sponsored by EPA's
SunWise Program and WeatherBug, you can still vote for the
national winner and win prizes!

You're probably wondering why it's so important for you to vote.
First, you'll help decide which poster is the best at showing us all how
to be SunWise! Second, you'll decide who deserves a trip for four to
Disney World and a WeatherBug Tracking station—a scientific-grade
weather station built to withstand all kinds of weather and record
27 different weather measurements in real time—for his/her school.
Third, all students under age 18 who vote will be entered into  a
drawing for an iPod nano. To vote and learn more about the contest.
please visit www.shadefoundation.org/postercontest.

Finally, make sure to mark your calendars for next year's contest. Or
better yet, sign up on our Web site so we can send you a reminder to
participate in the 2009 poster contest. Here's a teaser: this year our state
winners received iPods, plus their schools received a Sun UV Station
to monitor real-time UV intensity levels (value: $99), a one gallon-sized
pump bottle of sunscreen (value: $200), and a box of 3,000 UV-
sensitive beads (value: $55). Some states, like New York, Wsconsin, and
Wyoming, provided additional prizes, including UV-sensitive wristbands.
gift certificates, and other recognition.

You can find everything you need to know about the poster contest at
www.shadefoundation.org/postercontest. We look forward to
having a great voter turnout and even more entries next year!
                                                                                                                                                       The issue hits home for
                                                                                                                                                       Katie from Iowa, one of the
                                                                                                                                                       two national winners from
                                                                                                                                                       2007, because her father is a
                                                                                                                                                       melanoma survivor. Katie knows
                                                                                                                                                       how important it is to spread
                                                                                                                                                       the word about sun safety.
SUNWISE PARTNERS WITH
        5ADIO
In an effort to help SunWise deliver a
consistent, reinforced message about sun
safety, Radio Disney agreed to launch a
sun safety segment in a Public Service
Announcement (PSA) radio show called
"Kids' Concerns." In the spring of 2007,
the SunWise team joined Lisa McGovern,
executive director of the Congressional
Families Cancer Prevention Program, and
Alison, a high school student and "graduate"
of SunWise, for Radio Disney's Boston
Backyard Show to tape a 30-minute radio
PSA. The show featured a fun, informative
discussion on how kids can incorporate
sun safety into their daily lives. SunWise
was interviewed in three additional cities in
2007 (Seattle with Suzie Dicks, Milwaukee
with Wisconsin State  Superintendent
Elizabeth Burmaster, and Orlando). Stay
tuned for upcoming interviews with other
Congressional Families members, including
Karen Pence of Indiana and Stephene
Moore of Kansas. Contact us at sunwise@
epa.gov if you know a great SunWise
spokesperson for a Radio Disney interview.

Additionally, a 30-second PSA voiced by
the Disney teen pop music group T-Squad
promoted the health benefits of sun safety
and ran on 41 Radio Disney stations. Radio
Disney estimates that the PSA was heard
around 58 million times by 6-11-year-olds
and 10.7 million times by moms.
                                                                                                                            highlights
       Recycled/Recyclable - Printed with Vegetable Oil Based Inks on 100% (Minimum 50% Postconsumer) Recycled Paper.
                                                                                                                            FDA PROPOSES SUNSCREEN LABEL CHANGES	2    WHAT IS THE MONTREAL PROTOCOL?.
                                                                                                                            NEW ONLINE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM.
                                                                                                                                                EDUCATOR RECOGNITION.
                                                                                                                  ,.4   DOLLARS AND SENSE	
                                                                                                                  ,.4   SUNWISE COMMUNITIES.,

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      NEW FDA  PROPOSAL COULD  HELP EASE
      CONSUMER CONFUSION ABOUT  SUNSCREEN
        On August 23, 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced
        a new proposal for the labeling of sunscreen. Currently products typically list a
        numerical Sun Protection Factor (SPF), which is a measure of UVB protection only.
        Under the new proposal, a product's level of UVA protection will be labeled using
        symbols (stars) on a scale of one to four, along with descriptors (low, medium, high,
        or highest). An easy way to remember the two types of harmful UV rays is that
        UVA rays are the aging rays and UVB rays are the burning rays. Overexposure to
        both forms of UV rays can lead to the development of skin cancer.

        The proposal also outlines other regulations, including:

        • All sunscreens would be required to include a warning statement in the "Drug
         Facts" box. The warning would read: "UV exposure from the sun increases
         the risk of skin cancer, premature skin aging, and other skin damage. It is
                   important to decrease UV exposure by limiting time in the sun.
                    wearing protective clothing, and using sunscreen."
                      • The maximum SPF would be increased from 30+ to 50+.
                          •   Sunscreens would no longer be able to use the
                             misleading terminology "waterproof" or "sweatproof"
                             Additionally, they could only use the term "water
                             resistant" if  a product retains its claimed sun protection
                             after 40 minutes in the water and "very water resistant"
                             if its protection is retained after 80 minutes in the water.

                          The proposed changes underwent a 120-day period of
                          public comment, and FDA is in the process of incorporating
                          public comments for  a final rule. The rule will go into effect
                          on a date specified in the final rule. It is likely that the earliest
                          any new labeling will appear is 2009.
                                                               AN OUNCE  OF
                                                               PREVENTION IS
                                                               WORTH A POUND
                                                               OF CURE-SIMPLE
                                                               SUNSCREEN  RULES

                                                               APPLY a generous amount
                                                               (1 ounce or palm-full) of
                                                               sunscreen to dry skin 20
                                                               minutes before going out into
                                                               the sun. Studies show that most
                                                               people apply only a quarter to half
                                                               of the proper amount of sunscreen,
                                                               which means the actual SPF they
                                                               have on their bodies is lower than
                                                               advertised. Apply broad-spectrum
                                                               sunscreen rated SPF 15 or higher.
                                                               Take your time and apply generously
                                                               and remember areas that are easy to
                                                               forget, such  as your lips, nose, ears,
                                                               feet, hands,  areas where your scalp is
                                                               visible, and the back of your neck.

                                                               REAPPLY every 2 hours -
                                                               more often if you are sweating
                                                               or swimming. Sunscreen also
                                                               needs to be  reapplied every time
                                                               you towel off. Sunscreen should be
                                                               used in addition to several other
                                                               SunWise Action Steps. Remember
                                                               to seek shade, especially  during peak
                                                               hours of  sun exposure (between 10
                                                               and 4); wear UV-blocking lenses,
                                                               wide-brimmed hats and  protective
                                                               clothing;  and check the UV Index.
    BECOME  A  SUNWISE-
    CERTIFIED  OUTDOOR
    EDUCATOR!
    SunWise will be releasing a new online sun safety
    certification program for outdoor recreation staff
    including camp counselors, scout troop leaders,
    lifeguards, and anyone else working with kids
    outdoors. The interactive training will provide users
    with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to
    instill life-long sun-safe behaviors in the youth in their
    care. Tune into the SunWise Web site at www.epa.
    gov/sunwise to learn more.
A ROUND OF  APPLAUSE FOR OUR
NEW RESEARCH  TEAM MEMBERS
EPA thanks the approximately 60 SunWise Educators who
have agreed to participate in our ongoing program effectiveness
evaluation. These educatorsjoined SunWise betweenjanuary
2007 and February 2008, and were randomly assigned to one
of two groups: the delayed Sun Wise-teaching group (control)
and the immediate SunWse-teaching group (intervention). As
integral members of the SunWse Research Team, both groups
will survey their students in March and April before teaching
SunWise to determine what students know about the sun, how
they feel about sun protection, and what they are currently doing
to protect themselves. After the surveys are distributed, teachers
in the intervention group will teach students SunWse activities
for one to two hours before the end of the 2008 school year. The
control group educators will not teach SunWise in 2008. In spring
2009, a similar survey will be distributed to the same students
(prior to teaching SunWise to the control group) to see if their sun
protection knowledge, attitudes, and behavior changed.

After analyzing the results, the control and intervention groups
will be compared to see how effective SunWise is at improving
sun protection knowledge, attitudes, and behavior.  The results
of the study will help EPA show the effectiveness of the
program and guide improvements of SunWise materials. As
a thank you for their time and effort, research team educators
will receive a $150 gift certificate to a bookstore and Be
SunWise UV-sensitive wristbands for their students.

While EPA is not currently looking for additional schools
to survey, we value your input and invite you to complete a
teacher survey at www.epa.gov/sunwise/survey.

Thanks again to  our new SunWise  Research Team Members!
  Resource Reminders
      Don't forget we are always adding new resources
      and updating old ones on our Web site. Check out
      www.epa.gov/sunwise to find out more about:
           New introductory presentations for grades K-2, 3-5,
           and 6-8. Remember that the meerkats featured aren't
           cats, but members of the mongoose family.
                                                The SunWise News Roundup, a weekly e-mail that
                                                contains links to sun safety news articles from the
                                                past week. Contact us at sunwise@epa.gov if
                                                you would like to receive the Roundup.

                                                New activities to go along with the Sunscreen Dance
                                                song by the Swingset Mamas.

                                                An updated Meteorologist Tool Kit.

                                                A revised fact sheet on UV Eye Damage.
E-mail us atsunwise@epa.gov if you have developed activities,
or have suggestions for additional resources that should be
developed. We value your input and will show our thanks by sending
you UV-sensitive wristbands.

Please keep us updated with your current address. If the Monitor
was addressed to you personally, then you do not need to register
again. If you were not the addressee, or if you have changed
schools, please notify us at sunwise@epa.gov so that we can
update our records.

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S u  n  W i s e
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                                                                                  S  u  n W i s e
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      WHAT IS  THE  MONTREAL

      PROTOCOL  AND WHAT

      DOES  IT HAVE TO  DO WITH

      SKIN  CANCER?

      The Montreal Protocol is widely hailed as the most successful
      international environmental agreement to date, and without
      it, skin cancer would be an even greater problem than it is
      now. In the 1980s, scientists began to notice a thinning of the
      ozone layer. In 1987, leaders from 24 countries converged
      in Montreal to sign the landmark environmental treaty, the
      Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone
      Layer. The Protocol was designed to protect the ozone layer
      by phasing out substances responsible for ozone depletion.
      Today, 191 countries have ratified the treaty. These countries
      are committed to phasing out the production and use of
      chlorofluorocarbons (GFGs) and other ozone-depleting
      substances, once widely used as coolants in refrigerators
      and aerosol propellants in spray cans. The depletion of the
      ozone layer contributes to an increased amount of ultraviolet
      (UV) radiation reaching the Earth's surface. Overexposure
      to UV radiation can cause a wide range of health problems,
      particularly skin cancer and eye damage.

      EPA's Stratospheric Protection Division and its partners have
      made significant strides under the Montreal Protocol to protect
      the Earth's stratosphenc ozone layer, the environment, and
      public health. EPA estimates that by the year 2165, actions to
      protect and restore the ozone layer will save an estimated 6.3
      million U.S. lives that would have otherwise been lost to skin
                                         cancer. In addition to restoring the ozone layer, phasing out
                                         ozone-depleting substances protects the climate. Through the
                                         Montreal Protocol, EPA has already reduced U.S. greenhouse
                                         gas emissions by more than 8,900 million metric tons of carbon
                                         equivalent substances per year—equivalent to the cumulative
                                         carbon dioxide emissions of electricity generated to power every
                                         U.S. home for more than 13 years. In the September 2007
                                         Meeting of the Parties, which marked the 20th anniversary of
                                         the Protocol, the countries strengthened the phaseout schedule.

                                         EPA developed a progress report and poster that
                                         highlighted the historical timeline of events associated
                                         with the Montreal Protocol and the achievements that
                                         have been made over the past two decades to phase out
                                         ozone-depleting substances. The internationally-acclaimed
                                         progress report and award-winning poster are available at
                                         www.epa.gov/ozone/strathome.html.
                                                                          EPA's Office of Air and
                                                                          Radiation, Stratospheric
                                                                          Protection Division.
Dr. Peyton Weary accepts a U.S. EPA Best-of-the-Best Stratospheric Ozone Protection
Award from Drusilla Hufford, EPA Stratospheric Protection Division Director.

EPA  RECOGNIZES  DR.  PEYTON

WEARY WITH A BEST-OF-THE-BEST

STRATOSPHERIC OZONE

PROTECTION  AWARD

In 1990, EPA established the Stratospheric Ozone
Protection Awards to recognize exceptional leadership,
personal dedication, and technical achievements in
protecting the Earth's stratospheric ozone layer. In 2007,
EPA honored the Best-of-the-Best award winners as part
of the 20th Anniversary of the Montreal Protocol. Dr.
Peyton Weary, retired from the University of Virginia
School of Medicine, won one of these prestigious awards for
promoting ozone layer protection to prevent skin cancer. To
learn more about Dr. Weary and the other award winners,
go to: www.epa.gov/ozone/strathome.html.
                                                            Fun  Facts  About  Ozone
                       I?  The word ozone is derived from the Greek
                           word meaning "to smell." Ozone has a
                           pungent odor that allows it to be detected
                           even at very low amounts.
                       kj
                       fr  Most ozone (about 90%) is found in the
                           stratosphere and the remaining amount (about
                           10%) is found in the troposphere.
                       LV
                       ^  Ozone molecules have a relatively low
                           abundance in the atmosphere. In the
                           stratosphere, near the peak of the ozone layer,
                           there are up  to 12,000 ozone  molecules for
                           every billion  air molecules. In the troposphere
                           near the Earth's surface, ozone is even less
                           abundant, with a typical range of 20 to 100
                           ozone molecules for each billion air molecules.
                       Us
                       ^-  If all of the ozone molecules  in the troposphere
                           and stratosphere were brought down to the
                           Earth's surface and uniformly distributed into a
                           gas layer over the globe, the  resulting layer  of
                           pure ozone would have a thickness of less than
                           one-quarter inch.

                        For more information on the ozone layer, search
                        the United Nations Environment  Programme's Web
                        site for Twenty Questions and Answers about the
                        Ozone Layer: 2006 Update (http://ozone.unep.
                        org/Frequently  Asked  Questions/).
      Educator
      Recognition

      HOW ONE  NURSE  IN
      PORTLAND,  OREGON
      FLAGS  THE IMPORTANCE
      OF SUN SAFETY
     Jane "Ladybug" McEldowney a school
      nurse in Portland, Oregon, flies a flag
      outside her office door to share the UV
                       Index forecast for the day with students
                       and staff at Outdoor School. She tells
                       the sixth graders and their teachers at the
                       week-long outdoor science program in the
                       Multnomah Education Service District
                       about the UV Index and about how to
                       receive the ZIP code-specific forecast.
                       This enthusiastic nurse made flags of the
                       five colors, representing the various levels
                       of UV intensity. McEldowney says, "The
                       weather report is a breakfast feature of
                       our program, so adding UV was easy." For
                       more information about the UV Index and
                       to find out how you can receive the UV
                       Index forecast daily via e-mail, visit
                       www. epa. gov/sunwise /uvindex.html.
GO WITH YOUR  OWN

GLOW CAMPAIGN

The Skin Cancer Foundation has
launched a campaign where beauty
and fashion industry experts speak out
against tanning. There is a great video
that chronicles the history of tanning and
uses archival footage to point out many
things that are no longer trendy or have
gone out of fashion, including pet rocks,
beehive hairdos, mullets, Beta video
recorders and tanned skin. The video is
available at www.skincancer.org.
DID YOU KNOW.
       The indoor tanning industry has an estimated
       revenue of $5 billion per year.
       Several studies have shown that exposure to
       tanning beds before age 35 increases melanoma
       risk by approximately 75 percent (range=35
       percent to 126 percent).
       The American Academy of Dermatology
       (www.aad.org) and the SHADE Foundation
       (www.shadefoundation.org) offer a limited
       number of grants for shade structures.
                                                                                 Jane McEldowney at Outdoor School in Portland, OR.

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S u  n W i  s e
          DOLLARS AND SENSE: TEACHING
          SUN  SAFETY TO CHILDREN  SAVES

          LIVES  AND MONEY
          Cost-Benefit Analysis of SunWise to be Published
          in Pediatrics Online Journal

          A study analyzing the cost effectiveness of the SunWise
          Program will be published in the May 2008 issue of
          Pediatrics. The study is unique because few studies to date
          have analyzed the cost-saving benefits of school-based
          health programs, and no study to our knowledge, has
          analyzed sun safety programs. The primary message of
          the cost-benefit analysis is that teaching children about sun
          safety saves lives and money. So thank you! We couldn't
          have done this without your help. You are the reason we're
          making a difference.  Specifically:

          •  Every federal dollar invested in SunWise generates $2
            to $4 in public health benefits.
          •  The larger the investment in SunWise, the more cost-
            beneficial the program becomes for taxpayers.
          •  Over the past nine years, federal spending per person
            of less than three cents on EPA's SunWise Program is
            helping to prevent 15 deaths and more than 3,000 cases
            of skin cancer. For pennies more over the next 7 years,
            the SunWise Program can save 36 to 56 more lives and
            prevent 8,000 to 12,000 more cases of skin cancer.
          •  Small behavior changes, like wearing a hat or seeking
            shade, can lead to significant health benefits in the future.
          •  For very little effort and no cost, teachers can improve
            students' health (1-2 hours to use activities in the free
            educational, standards-based SunWise Tool Kit).

          The full article will be available online in May at
          http: //pediatrics, aappublications. org/.
id  you  know?
  jf;' Thi; 10 states with the highest melanoma
     "'death rates are: Rhode Island, Wyoming,
      Idaho, New Hampshire, Connecticut,
      Missouri, Washington, Kansas, Oregon,
      and Colorado. The top 10 states for
      melanoma incidence are: Vermont, New
      Hampshire, Idaho, Oregon, Washington,
      Utah, Maine, Massachusetts, Delaware,
      and Wyoming. The National Cancer
      Institute maintains state cancer profiles at
      statecancerprofiles.cancer.gov/index.
      html. Visit the site to see where your state
     .•tanks in incidence and death rates for
     "'melanoma.

      Every square'jinch of your body has  about
      19 million skin cells.

      Dr. Jill Zamzow's research has found that
      most species of tropical fish (174 and
      counting) have sunscreens in the mucus
      that coats their bodies to help protect
      theflvf/om the sun's damaging rays.
      These"'sunscreens are actually made by
      the algae and corals that make their way
      into the fish when eaten. Jill says we
    ,  may call  her "slime girl."
                                                                                                                                                         SunWise
NINE AWARDS  AND
COUNTING
SunWise recently added two awards to its
portfolio, bringing the total to nine.
      Montreal Protocol Public Awareness
      Award - At the 19th Meeting of the
      Parties to the Montreal Protocol in
      September 2007, the United Nations
      Environment Programme (UNEP)
      presented the SunWise Program with
      a Montreal Protocol Public Awareness
      Award for "outstanding work in raising
      awareness about ozone depletion and the
      global effort to protect the ozone layer."
      This is the first international award the
      SunWise Program has received.

      Gold Triangle Award - At the 66th
      Annual Meeting of the American
      Academy of Dermatology (AAD),
      SunWise was presented with its fourth
      national award from AAD. The
      prestigious "Gold Triangle Award"
      recognizes excellence in promoting
      healthy behavior in skin care and
      was for our work with Radio Disney
      in the summer of 2007. AAD was
      founded in 1938 and is the largest, most
      influential, and most representative
      of all dermatologic associations with
      a membership of more than 15,000
      physicians worldwide.
Suzie Dicks at Lowell Elementary to announce SunWise
Day in Pierce County, Washington.
                                                                                                                                                Suzie Dicks and Lisa McGovern accept the AAD Gold
                                                                                                                                                Triangle Award on behalf of Sun Wise.
 CONTINUING SUNWISE  OUTREACH

 TO  COMMUNITIES AND  STATES

                                          Washington:
                                          To continue
                                          spreading SunWise
                                          throughout
                                          Washington state,
                                          EPA announced
                                          Pierce County
                                          as a SunWse
                                          /-i
                                          Community at an
                                          event in 2007 that
                                          featured the fourth
                                          grade classes of
                                          Lowell Elementary
                                          in Pierce County,
 Washington. The event included a SunWise representative from
 EPA,  School Principal Robert Dahl, Tacoma School District
 Deputy Superintendent Ethelda Burke, and Suzie Dicks, member
 of the Congressional Families Cancer Prevention Program and wife
 of Congressman Norm Dicks, D-Wash. Pierce County Executive
John Ladenburg not only issued a proclamation declaring May 7,
 2007, SunWise Day, he also issued ajoint letter with EPA regarding
 the benefits of the SunWise Program in the school systems, which
 was sent to K-8 schools across the county. Now that Pierce County
 has joined King County, WA as a SunWise Community we have
 our sights set on the entire state becoming SunWise.

 Wisconsin: In order to announce that Wisconsin joined Arizona
 in becoming the second SunWise State, EPA hosted an event
 that featured the third grade class of Northside Elementary in
 Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. Elizabeth Burmaster, Wisconsin State
 Superintendent for Public Instruction; Dr. Mark Wegner, Chronic
 Disease Medical Director for the Wisconsin Division of Public
 Health; representatives from the Wsconsin Comprehensive
 Cancer Control Program; an EPA SunWise representative; and a
 representative from Tammy Baldwin's, D-Wisc., office participated.
 The students answered all of the questions correctly when they
 were quizzed about sun safety and modeled SunWse behaviors
 when they went outside to test the UV-sensitive Frisbee®. In
 Wisconsin, the statewide effort is voluntary and began with EPA
 sending a SunWise Tool Kit to every school district in the  state.

 Check out www.epa.gov/sunwise/swcities.html to learn about
 the newest SunWise Communities - they will be announced in May.

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