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Sunscreen

AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, MOST OF US SLATHER ON SUNSCREEN TO PREVENT SKIN CANCER.  BUT ARE WE DOING ENOUGH? WE’LL SHED LIGHT ON THE ISSUE ON TODAY’S ENVIRONMINUTE.

THE SUN EMITS TWO TYPES OF HARMFUL RAYS – U-V-A AND U-V-B. U-V-B RAYS ARE KNOWN TO CAUSE SUNBURN, BUT DERMATOLOGIST NANCY THOMAS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA SAYS U-V-A RAYS PENETRATE DEEPER, SO THEY MAY ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO SKIN CANCER.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE S-P-F LISTED ON MOST SUNSCREEN REFERS ONLY TO HOW WELL IT BLOCKS U-V-B RADIATION.  THE F-D-A MAY SOON INCORPORATE U-V-A PROTECTION INTO ITS STANDARD FOR SUNSCREEN LABELING, BUT WHAT CAN YOU DO IN THE MEANTIME?  

THOMAS SUGGESTS YOU CHECK THE U-V INDEX IN THE WEATHER SECTION OF YOUR NEWSPAPER, AND IF IT’S HIGH, TRY TO SCHEDULE OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES BEFORE TEN OR AFTER FOUR.   

THOMAS: THINGS LIKE SPORTS GAMES AND SWIMMING, GOING DOWN TO THE BEACH, MIGHT BE BETTER AT THOSE TIMES OF THE DAY.

THE ENVIRONMINUTE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HEINZ FAMILY PHILANTHROPIES AND THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS.  LEARN MORE BY VISITING ENVIRONMINUTE-DOT-COM.     

To find out your local UV index forecast, visit http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/uvindex.html

To learn more about UVA and UVB rays, visit http://911skin.com/uvbubarays.html

To read more about this and other environmental health issues, go to: www.environmentalhealthnews.org, www.ourstolenfuture.org, or www.healthandenvironment.org