UV Index (data from WeatherOnline)
Even in relatively sun-free countries like Britain, it can take a little as half an hour to get sunburn. In the long term it might even pose a serious threat to your health.
Ultraviolet radiation from the sun is the major cause of skin cancer. This disease affects around 50,000 Britons annually. Its most dangerous form, 'malignant melanoma', kills more than 2% of them. Skin cancer makes up half of all new cases of cancer in America and around half of all Australians will develop the disease.
Solar
Index |
Skin Type
| Burns in the sun, may tan
(Category 1) |
Tans with little or no burning
(Category 2) |
Naturally pigmented skin – brown
(Category 3) |
Naturally pigmented skin – black
(Category 4) |
|
|
| 1 |
low |
– |
– |
– |
| 2 |
low |
– |
– |
– |
| 3 |
medium |
low |
– |
– |
| 4 |
medium |
low |
– |
– |
| 5 |
high |
medium |
low |
– |
| 6 |
high |
medium |
medium |
low |
| 7 |
very high |
high |
medium |
medium |
| 8 |
very high |
high |
medium |
medium |
| 9 |
very high |
high |
medium |
medium |
| 10 |
very high |
high |
high |
medium |
|
Key Points
 |
In 15 minutes, the sun radiates as much energy to Earth as the world's population consumes in all forms, during an entire year |
 |
A two-week Mediterranean holiday gives the equivalent of a whole year of exposure to the sun in the UK |
 |
Skin cancer affects around 50,000 Britons every year and kills more than 2% of them. Half of all Australians will develop the disease |
 |
Sunbeds are as dangerous as the sun because their radiation penetrates deeper into the skin |
 |
New research suggests that sunshine may reduce the risk of many forms of cancer, such as breast and prostate cancer |
Recommended Websites
If you'd like more information on sun awareness and safety, ultraviolet radiation protection, protecting kids in the sun, skin cancer prevention and more, check out some of the following web sites.
Himaya
HIMAYA is dedicated to producing functional sports sunscreens that withstand all adverse conditions of the sports environment so that the cream remains on the skin to provide the Sun protection that it needs.
Sunsmart
Australian site full of accessible information and good advice on sun safety and skin cancer prevention.
Sunwise
A schools programme with sun advice from the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Euroskin
Website of the European Society of Skin Cancer Prevention. Contains details of conferences.
The Met Office - UV forecasts (UK & Europe)
Very useful maps showing the forecast for the UV index levels across Europe.
Sunshine (World)
A German website with an English-language version. It gives live sun information for locations throughout the world. Includes times of peak sun damage risk.
|
