ABSTRACT
Abstract The beneficial and harmful effects of human exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UV-R) are topics that arouse great interest not only among physicians and scientists, but also the general public and the media. Currently, discussions on vitamin D synthesis (beneficial effect) are confronted with the high and growing number of new cases of non-melanoma skin cancer and other diseases of the skin and eyes (harmful effect) diagnosed each year in Brazil. However, the lack of scientific knowledge on the UV-R in Brazil and South America leads to adoption of protective measures based on studies conducted in Europe and USA, where the amounts of UV-R available at surface and the sun-exposure habits and characteristics of the population are significantly different from those observed in Brazil. In order to circumvent this problem, the Brazilian Society of Dermatology recently published the Brazilian Consensus of Photoprotection based on recent studies performed locally. The main goal of this article is to provide detailed educational information on the main properties and characteristics of UV-R and UV index in a simple language. It also provides: a) a summary of UV-R measurements recently performed in Brazil; b) a comparison with those performed in Europe; and, c) an evaluation to further clarify the assessment of potential harm and health effects owing to chronic exposures.
Subject(s)
Humans , Environmental Exposure/adverse effects , Environmental Exposure/statistics & numerical data , Sunlight/adverse effects , Ultraviolet Rays/adverse effects , Brazil , Climate Change , Radiation Dosage , Radiation Protection , South America , Sunbathing , Skin Neoplasms/etiology , Stratospheric Ozone/chemistry , Time Factors , Vitamin D/metabolismABSTRACT
La verdad incómoda: Trata sobre el medio ambiente el calentamiento global, la capa de ozono
Subject(s)
Environment , Stratospheric OzoneABSTRACT
El Santuario de la Naturaleza Carlos Anwandter (Valdivia, Chile) incluye el cauce del río Cruces, varios tributarios de él y zonas aledañas de inundación permanente (bañados). En dicho humedal existía una rica flora acuática y palustre, que albergaba una variada fauna, especialmente aves. En octubre de 2004 se denunció la muerte de algunos Cisnes de cuello negro y la migración de la mayoría de ellos, por escasez de alimento, constituido principalmente por el macrófito sumergido y arraigado al sustrato, Egeria densa, que había desaparecido de los bañados, pero se conservaba sumergido en los cauces. Los Cisnes de cuello negro sumergían cuerpo y cabeza tironeando las plantas, arrancándolas y ayudando así a su desaparición. La causa de la muerte en los bañados y profundización de Egeria densa en los cauces, es aún una incógnita, aunque se ha señalado como culpable a una industria de celulosa ubicada a orillas del río Cruces unos 30 km aguas arriba del humedal, que empezó sus actividades productivas en febrero de 2004. Se supone una contaminación con hierro, presente en los sedimentos y liberados por los riles de la industria. Las características de la posible contaminación del humedal no son típicas de una actividad industrial, que tampoco podría haberse presentado en tan corto plazo. La presencia de los mismos síndromes observados en el Santuario del río Cruces, en las lagunas (Grande y Chica) de San Pedro de la Paz en Concepción, 400 km más al Norte, indican una causa más generalizada. La sobrevivencia de plantas sumergidas, indican un factor atmosférico que se atenúa en profundidad. Ante estas y otras evidencias se hipotetiza que la causa de la muerte de Egeria densa sería la alta radiación UV-B en la región, aumentada por el paulatino adelgazamiento de la capa de ozono. Esta hipótesis deberá ser comprobada en la próxima primavera, época en que aumenta la radiación.
Subject(s)
Benthic Fauna , Biodiversity , Birds , Environmental Imbalance , Environmental Pollutants , Industrial Pollution , Lumber Industry , Macrophytes , River Pollution , Aquatic Fauna , Aquatic Flora , Aquatic Microorganisms , Cellulose , Chile , Environment , Iron/poisoning , Solar Radiation , Stratospheric OzoneSubject(s)
Humans , Climate Change , Environmental Policy , Conservation of Natural Resources , Greenhouse Effect , Social Problems , Stratospheric Ozone/prevention & control , Conservation of Natural Resources , Conservation of Natural Resources , Environmental Pollution , Cyclonic Storms , Non Conventional Energy , Population Growth , Global Health , WildfiresSubject(s)
Humans , Solar Radiation , Sunburn , Ultraviolet Rays , Burns , Radiation Exposure , Stratospheric Ozone , Sunscreening AgentsABSTRACT
É estudada a influência da depleçäo da camada de ozônio sobre a saúde do homem. A depleçäo atual leva ao aumento dos cânceres de pele e linfomas näo odgkin, ao fotoenvelhecimento, à produçäo de catarata e à baixa da imunidade celular. Estuda-se também a açäo dos protetores solares
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Stratospheric Ozone , Cataract , Skin Neoplasms/diagnosis , Ozone/adverse effects , Skin Diseases , Sunscreening Agents , Ultraviolet RaysABSTRACT
El ozono (O3) es el principal componente de los contaminantes fotoquímicos del aire y se forma cuando los óxidos de nitrógeno naturales o antropogénicos reaccionan con los compuestos orgánicos volátiles en presencia de la radiación solar ultravioleta. Típicamente el nivel troposférico del O3 urbano es un problema desde el final de la primavera hasta comienzos del otoño. Se piensa que los efectos del O3 derivan principalmente de la formación de radicales libres. La exposición aguda a ozono en seres humanos causa dolor retroesternal en inspiración profunda, tos irritativa, disminución de CVF y VEF1 e inflamación de las vías aéreas asociada a hiperreactividad bronquial. La exposición prolongada produce bronquiolitis respiratoria crónica que puede derivar en una remodelación de la estructura pulmonar. En niños observados en un período de 3 años, el O3 se asoció con una disminución del crecimiento de CVF, VEF1 y FEM50. La susceptibilidad al O3 varía según la población expuesta, siendo especialmente sensibles los niños y las personas con enfermedades respiratorias preexistentes
Subject(s)
Humans , Environmental Exposure/adverse effects , Ozone/adverse effects , Respiratory Tract Diseases/etiology , Air Pollution, Indoor/adverse effects , Environmental Pollution/adverse effects , Environmental Illness/etiology , Ozone/chemistry , Stratospheric OzoneABSTRACT
La publicación de la presente Memoria busca dar a conocer, en Bolivia y en el exterior, los principales resultados de la investigación realizada, en los años 1997-1998, en el campo del ozono y la radiación ultravioleta, mostrando, al mismo tiempo, los nuevos caminos de investigación que se están abriendo
Subject(s)
Atmosphere , Ozone , Bolivia , Meteorology , Stratospheric Ozone , Atmosphere , RadiationABSTRACT
Recently, exposure to sunlight is increasing due to expanded life time, outdoor leisures, and reduced sun protective ozone layer. Sunlight can produce not only benefit but also various kinds of harmful effect, such as skin carcinogenesis, photoaging and immunologic alterations, These effects can be minimized by sunscreens. This article reviews the methods to measure a suncreens efficacy and factors influencing the measurement. I. Measurement of photoprctective efficacy 1)The sun protective factor(SPF): The SPF is defined as the ratio of the UVB doses required to produce minimal erythema dose(MED) with sunscreen applied to without it. However, the exact procedures are not estabiished and the value is varied by methods. 2)Photoprotective factor A(FFA): In spite of its clinical improtance, evaluation of UVA protection rernains a problem due to its physiologic features. The methods to measure UVA protection are by the use of erythemal, phototoxic and pigmentary rections. 3)Outdoor measurement: It is ideal to measure the photoprotectiveness outdoor but a wide variation in value results from radiance sources and environmental factors. II. Factors influencing the evaluation The radiance sources, individ zal sensitivity to sunlight, product components and various environmental factors can make differences. Conclusion As more sunlight, exposure, he irnportance of photoprotection is increasing. The exact methods to measure the protectiveness of UVA and UVB should be established, especially adjusted to Korean people
Subject(s)
Carcinogenesis , Erythema , Leisure Activities , Skin , Solar System , Stratospheric Ozone , Sunlight , Sunscreening AgentsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Ultraviolet light induces sunburn, ageing of the skin, pigmentation and even promotes skin cancers. As there has been a recent decrease in the ozone layer surrounding the earth, increasing attention has been given to the effects of ultraviolet light on the skin. Through human epidermis, ultraviolet light is reflected, scattered, absorbed or transmitted. In caucacians, the rate of transmitted ultraviolet light A from the epidermis to the dermis is 50% and the rate of transmitted ultraviolet light B is below 10%. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the transmittance of UVA and UVB on Korean normal epidermis. METHODS: Pure epidermis was obtained from normal human epidermis by suction of blisters in 12 patients with vitiligo. All specimens were irradiated respectively with UVA and UVB and the amount of transmitted energy was measured. RESULTS: 1. The transmittance of UVA energy density by normal epidermis was 47.7+11.2% of irradiated UVA energy. 2. The transmittance of UVB energy density by normal epidermis was 32.4+3.4% of irradiated UVB energy. CONCLUSION: UVA energy transmission through normal epidermis of Korean is less than those of Caucacians but UVB energy transmission through nor mal epidermis of Korean is more than those of Caucacians. It is suggested that this could be an important basic data to study for photoaging and photoprotection in Korean population.