Monitoring Monday - UV Protection
Join us Mondays as the Clean Water Team shares information and resources on water quality monitoring. This Monday we will look at UV Protection.
Water quality monitoring usually involves sending people outdoors to collect water quality samples and measurements which may expose them to sunlight. Outdoor workers receiving significant exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) are at increased risk of UVR exposure of the eyes and skin.
Overexposure to the sun's ultraviolet radiation can cause immediate damage, such as sunburn, and long-term problems, such as skin cancer and cataracts. Since the early 1970s the incidence of skin cancer, including melanoma, has increased significantly in the United States.
Overexposure to UV radiation poses the risk of serious health effects for everyone, regardless of race or ethnicity. Some people might be more vulnerable to certain conditions, however. Not everyone is equally at risk. For example, you may be at greater risk of contracting skin cancer if your skin always burns; if you have blond or red hair; or blue, green, or gray eyes. Other factors indicating an increased risk of skin cancer include: a history of blistering sunburns in early childhood, the presence of many moles, or a family history of skin cancer. However, it is a good idea to remember that all people, no matter what skin type, are equally at risk of eye damage.
The UV Index depends mainly on the position of the sun and varies most with the season, the time of day and the geographic latitude. The total ozone concentration in the atmosphere, the cloudiness and the altitude of a location also play a role.
Light sky cover hardly reduces the UV Index. In contrast, at particular sky cover situations it can even increase in the short term due to additional scattered radiation, as compared with the UV Index with a clear sky.
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The Ultraviolet (UV) Index is a useful tool to help the general public take steps to reduce their exposure to solar UV radiation. The UV Index was developed in 1994 by the National Weather Service (NWS) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to help plan outdoor activities to avoid overexposure to UV radiation and thereby lower their risk of adverse health effects.
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The UV Index provides a forecast of the level of UV exposure expected on a given day. It is a prediction of the UV level at the solar noon hour, although the actual UV level rises and falls as the day progresses.
The National Weather Service calculates the UV Index forecast for most ZIP codes across the U.S., and EPA publishes this information. The UV Index is accompanied by recommendations for sun protection and is a useful tool for planning sun-safe outdoor activities.
The UV Index reminds people to protect themselves when engaging in their normal outdoor activities. UV radiation exposure poses varying degrees of risk for all people because it affects eyes and skin. People with sensitive skin should always take action to protect themselves. It is especially important that parents and caregivers know how to protect babies and young children who are more susceptible to overexposure.
UV radiation exposure poses varying degrees of risk for all people because it affects eyes and skin. People with sensitive skin should always take action to protect themselves.
Most people are not aware that skin cancer, while largely preventable, is the most common form of cancer in the United States. More than 3.5 million new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed annually. By following some simple steps, you can still enjoy your time in the sun and protect yourself from overexposure.
UV EXPOSURE FACTS
- A tan results from the body defending itself against further damage from UV radiation. Any change in your skin’s natural color is a sign of damage to the skin.
- Sunburn is possible on a cloudy day. Up to 80% of solar UV radiation can penetrate light cloud cover.
- UV radiation is generally lower in winter, but snow reflection can double overall exposure, especially at high altitudes, leading to sunburn and snowblindness.
- Sunscreen should not be used to increase sun exposure time but to increase protection during unavoidable exposure.
- UV exposure is cumulative during the day.
- Sunburn is caused by UV rays that cannot be felt. The heating effect is caused by the sun’s infrared radiation and not UV.
- Melanoma occurs most on the back (for men) and legs (for women), which are sites with only intermittent exposure.
- Skin cancer commonly occurs in people who tan before they burn.
SUN PROTECTION SAFETY TIPS
- Check the UV Index - The UV Index provides important information to help you plan your outdoor activities in ways that prevent sun overexposure. The UV Index forecast is issued daily by the National Weather Service and EPA.
- Use Extra Caution Near Water, Snow and Sand - Water, snow and sand reflect the damaging rays of the sun, which can increase your chance of sunburn.
- Seek Shade - Seek shade when possible, and limit exposure during midday hours as the sun’s UV rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Do Not Burn -Sunburns significantly increase one's lifetime risk of developing skin cancer.
- Generously Apply Sunscreen - Generously apply about one ounce of sunscreen to cover all exposed skin 15 minutes before going outside. Sunscreen should have a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 (SPF15)and provide broad-spectrum protection from both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Reapply every two hours, even on cloudy days, and after swimming or sweating. Remember to apply sunscreen on any part of the skin that is exposed to the sun, such as the nose, the back of the neck, and the rims of the ears. Use lip balms or creams containing sunscreen. While sunscreen is effective when applied properly, doctors caution that sunscreen should not be used to prolong the duration of sun exposure.
- Wear Protective Clothing - When used correctly, shade, clothing, and hats provide the best protection from UV radiation. Wear protective clothing, such as a long-sleeved shirt and pants. Wearing clothing made from tightly woven fabrics are recommended as UV rays can pass through holes and spaces in loosely knit fabric. Wear a hat with a wide brim that protects the eyes, face, and neck. Wear sunglasses that provide 100% UV protection.
 Sunscreen and the environment.
During recreational activities and water sports in natural waters, sunscreen washes off people’s skin to disperse in the surrounding environment. Chemical sunscreens are the most commonly used sunscreen. They absorb and reduce UV rays’ ability to penetrate the skin.
Common ingredients like oxybenzone, butylparaben, octinoxate, nano titanium dioxide, and nano zinc oxide were identified as environmentally harmful in a 2008 study. Researchers found that the chemicals can activate latent viral infections in the symbiotic microalgae that the corals rely on for nutrition. Studies that followed further demonstrated chemical sunscreen’s harmful impact on coral reefs and marine organisms.
Other sunscreens use mineral or inorganic ingredients. These Physical sunscreens block or reflect both UVA and UVB rays but leave a whitish tinge on people’s skin and are often oily and difficult to rub in.
The most common ingredients in physical sunscreens are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. A recently published study found that non-coated zinc oxide and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (less than 35 nanometers in diameter), in other words, so-called reef-safe sunscreen, can be toxic to corals, fish, and other reef organisms. Their small size, interaction with cells, and the fact that they cause oxidative stress in sunlight (coral bleaching) damages hard corals and their symbiotic algae.
Despite numerous studies indicating that the primary active ingredients in chemical and physical sunscreens damage marine environments, some experts argue that further research is needed. They postulate that studies undertaken in lab environments may fail to capture conditions on the reef, where pollutants are quickly dispersed and diluted.
References
A Guide to the UV Index
https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/documents/uviguide.pdf
Coral-friendly sunscreen provides better UV protection than existing options
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/03/230301120850.htm#
EWG's Sunscreen Guide: Our 2023 Guide to Sunscreens profiles more than 1,700 products
https://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/report/executive-summary/
Making a cleaner, greener, environmentally safe sunscreen
https://explore.research.ufl.edu/making-a-cleaner-greener-environmentally-safe-sunscreen.html
17 Best Sunscreens for Every Skin Type in 2023, According to Dermatologists
https://www.prevention.com/beauty/skin-care/g20174383/best-sunscreens/
Skincare Chemicals and Coral Reefs
https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/sunscreen-corals.html
Sun Safety
https://www.epa.gov/sunsafety
The Environmental Impacts of Reef-Safe Sunscreen and How to Choose the Best One
https://earth.org/reef-safe-sunscreen/#
UV Index Description
https://19january2021snapshot.epa.gov/enviro/uv-index-description_.html
Your guide to sunscreens
https://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/
Which Sunscreens Are Best for the Environment? Here's how to choose a product that's green and safe.
https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/2020-3-may-june/ask-ms-green/which-sunscreens-are-best-for-environment
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