Effects of UV radiation
The sun has a number of important effects on the human body. Most of them have to do with the UV radiation in sunlight. The problem with this is that people have no sense of UV radiation. You cannot see it and you cannot feel it directly (the part of the solar radiation that you can feel is the infrared radiation). The best known effects are definitely skin cancer and sunburn. But that is by far not all. In addition, research is still in the process of understanding and quantifying some of the effects. The links below will allow you to learn more about these topics.
- Skin cancer: White skin cancer and black skin cancer are probably the most serious consequences of UV radiation. Every third new case of cancer is skin cancer and affects millions of people every year.
- Sunburn: Probably the best known short-term episode of UVB radiation is the sunburn. It is anything but harmless.
- Vitamin D production: UV radiation is the only way the body can produce vitamin D without dietary supplements. Vitamin D deficiency can have serious consequences and is widespread (an estimated 50% of the European population do not have enough vitamin D).
- Eye damage: The eyes are also damaged by UV radiation. Cataracts, for example, can be a result of this.
- Serotonin production: Sunlight causes the body to produce serotonin (known as the happiness hormone). An undersupply of serotonin is linked to low well-being and depression.
With the research program and the data from sun-a-wear, we are helping to better understand the effects of UV radiation on the body. You can find more information about this in the article sun-a-wear and UV research.
Further reading:
Sources:
- Background: https: //
