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| As many as 60,000 people a year die from
too much exposure to the sun, the World Health Organization (WHO)
reported. (File
photo) | BEIJING, July 28
(Xinhuanet) -- As many as 60,000 people a year die from too much exposure to the
sun, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported.
Though ultraviolet (UV) radiation does have
beneficial effects -- mainly the production of vitamin D when exposed to
the shorter wavelength UVB rays - too much UV radiation can lead to a variety of
health problems, including skin cancer, sunburn, ageing of the skin, cold sores,
and eye cataracts.
Up to 90 percent of the global burden of disease from
melanoma and other skin cancers are estimated to be caused by exposure to
UV radiation, according to the report "Global Burden of Disease of Solar
Ultraviolet Radiation" released by the WHO on Wednesday.
Of the 60,000 yearly deaths caused by excessive
exposure to sun, 48,000 are caused by malignant melanomas and 12,000 by skin
carcinomas, according to the report, which identified nine adverse health
effects from too much exposure to UV rays.
The three main adverse effects of overexposure to UV
rays are malignant melanoma, a severe cancer that carries a significant risk of
death; squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, another type of malignant skin
cancer, which generally progresses less rapidly than melanoma and is less likely
to cause death or ongoing disability; and basal cell carcinoma, which appears
predominantly in older people.
The report advised that people seek shade, use
sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, and stay out of tanning salons.
Enditem
(Agencies)
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