In Australia we have a highly developed respect for, and understanding of, the sun, light and UV radiation. Our location, environment and even national past times such as sports and swimming, ensure that we are rarely free from exposure to UV radiation and the risk of sunburn and skin damage.

This almost constant exposure to damaging radiation from the sun means that we have the highest incidence of skin cancer and melanoma in the world, with two out of three Australians likely to be diagnosed with some form it during their lifetime. A recent advertising campaign declared skin cancer to be ‘our national cancer’.

Sunburn is generally accepted as a major contributing factor to the development of skin cancer and melanoma. Australia’s abundance of light, diminishing atmospheric protection and our outdoor lifestyle, combined with our heightened skin cancer incidence certainly support this fact. And it’s a fact that will become more relevant to more of the world in the not too distant future.

Much harmful radiation is filtered out by the Earth’s atmosphere and the ozone layer in particular. But with global warming and humanity’s environmentally damaging habits leading to further ozone depletion, larger areas of the planet are beginning to experience increasing UV radiation, and with it an increase in the incidence of skin cancer and melanoma.

Despite the efforts of skin cancer councils and organisations around the world, people are still not taking proper measures to protect themselves while out in the sun, and they are suffering the consequences. Searching Twitter for ‘sunburn’ highlights an alarmingly laissez-faire attitude, particularly in the young.

What is happening in Australia is in many ways a precursor to what the rest of the world can expect very soon. Alongside changing our environmentally unfriendly behaviour, we must also learn to better manage and understand the new and increasing risks that heightened UV radiation exposure brings.

Through understanding the damage that the sun does, developing habits that protect our skin from this damage, and avoiding sunburn, skin cancer and melanoma, we will be better placed to exist in the harsh, new environment we have inadvertently created for ourselves.

References:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/44764.php

http://www.cancer.org

Image reference:

Related Posts:

• Under your skin: Sunscreen and skin cancer this summer
• Teens and sunbed use; the regulation commences
• The Science of Sunburn

Tags: cancer, discussion, light, melanin, melanoma, photoprotection, photosensitivity, phototoxicity, radiation, skin, skin conditions, sunbed, tan, tanning, UV, UV & light related conditions, UVA, UVB

This entry was posted on Monday, August 24th, 2009 at 4:28 pm and is filed under Issues & Discourse. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.