Does Ultraviolet Radiation Cause Skin Cancer

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Ultraviolet radiation is subdivided into three groups UVA, UVB, and UVC. 99% of the UV radiation that reaches the earth’s surface is UVA radiation (Britannica). UVA radiation has a wave length of between 400 and 315 nm and has 1.7 times more mean energy than visible light (Britannica/intechopen). UVA radiation is also known to cause skin cancer. UVB radiation is 95% absorbed by our atmosphere in the ozone layer (nasa/ Britannica). It has a wavelength between 315 and 280 nm and has two times more energy than visible light (Britannica/intechopen). Although UVB radiation causes DNA and cell damage with over exposer to it, it also initiated vitamin D production in the body which helps our nervous system, bone growth, and many more areas of our…show more content…
Chemicals like Oxybenzone, and other products typically ending in –ene, -one, and –ate, are used to absorbed or reflect Ultraviolet radiation. It is important to remember that sunblock does not actually block out all Ultraviolet rays, it just greatly reduces the amount of radiation reaching our skin. For example, SPF 15 sunscreen, SPF standing for Sun Protection Factor, prevents us from being burnt, in theory, for 15 times longer than without it on because it filters out 93% of the UVB rays your body would usually absorb. It is equally important to remember that sweating and swimming a lot can decrease your protection from the sun that sunblock provides. Along with SPF, there is EPF, eye protection factor, which is used for glasses, and UPF, ultraviolet protection factor which is used to determine how much longer a person can stay in the sun with the fabric covering their skin compared to the length of time the person can stay in the sun without the fabric. Though there are a limited number of studies on how the composition of the yarn used in a fabric effects ultraviolet protection, some results how that yarn with natural fibers don’t protect you from ultraviolet radiation as well as synthetic ones

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