Increased UV-B Radiation Causes Health Problems
Since the 1930’s, the risk of malignant
melanoma has increased 800% to 1 in 87 in the US. Below is a quick review of
the health effects caused by the depletion of the Ozone layer.
One in every five Americans will develop skin cancer. The
numbers are increasing all over the world. Deaths from malignant melanoma have
increased 70% in the UK. Canada has
seen an increase of 60% of basal cell carcinoma.
Melanoma
Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin
cancer. In the United States alone cases of melanoma have increased two fold.
With continued depletion of ozone, this number is expected t o increase.
Doctors are just starting to find that exposure to the sun early in life could
lead to problems much later.
Nonmelanoma Skin Cancers
Nonmelanoma skin cancers are far less
deadly than melanoma, but can still prove to cause serious effects. According to the EPA, about 2,000 died of
nonmelanoma cancer. Two types of nonmelanoma cancers exist, and if treated
early, are rarely lethal. Basal Cell Carcinomas is the most common form
of skin cancer and characterized by small, fleshy bumps on the head or neck. Squamous
Cell Carcinomas is characterized by red, scaly patches anywhere on the
body.
UV-B radiation has been shown to cause damage to the eye. Eye
damage such as cataracts can occur from UV-B radiation. Eye cataracts occur when
there is a loss of transparency in the eye lens that obstructs vision. Without
the Montreal Protocol, it is estimated that by 2050, over 129 million new cases
of cataracts would have occurred. UV-B radiation can also cause other eye
damage: pterygium (tissue growth over lens) and degeneration of the macula.
Studies
have shown that increased levels of UV-B radiation could suppress the body’s
immune system. Although serious cases of immune suppression would be small in
number, the US already spends billions on health care for the common cold and
other illnesses. These numbers could increase substantially if the population’s
immune system was suppressed.
http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/activities2.html
Sources:
http://www.ea.gov.au/atmosphere/ozone/index.html,
http://www.eia-international.org/Campaigns/Ozone/Reports/ChillingFacts/ozone03.html
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