PETALING JAYA: Prolonged exposure to solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation can lead to severe health effects, including damage to the skin and eyes, organ damage and long-term health issues, according to health experts.
Healthcare expert Prof Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh said while the haze situation can actually reduce UV radiation, the public still needs to take steps to protect themselves from UV rays.
“Extreme prolonged and intense doses of UV rays may even cause organ damage.
“These include melanoma, skin cancer, basal-cell cancer (skin cancer), cataracts of the eyes, photokeratitis, pterygium (red, fleshy growth in inner eyes), eye macular degeneration, immunosuppression and premature skin ageing,” she said when contacted yesterday.
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a form of non-ionising radiation that is emitted by the sun and artificial sources, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Sharifa Ezat said certain groups of people are more at risk against UV rays, including children, outdoor workers, fair-skinned people and those with pre-existing moles that might turn malignant, as well as those with a history of skin cancer.
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“Protective strategies include using sunscreen, limiting time outdoors, seeking shaded cool areas, wearing protective equipment (such as umbrellas, hats and long-sleeved clothes), using sunglasses and avoiding getting artificial tanning devices (sunbeds),” she said.
According to her, the most common types of skin cancer in the country are basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).
“WHO has come up with an index, which is the Global Solar UV Index (UVI) that indicates the potential of skin damage,” she said, adding that it can be helpful to know how harmful UV radiation can be on a given day.
WHO had taken steps to reduce the burden of disease resulting from exposure to UVR.
The Global Solar UV Index (UVI), an information tool that describes the level of solar UVR at the Earth’s surface, was developed by WHO, the United Nations Environment Programme (Unep), the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (Icnirp).
The UVI serves as an indicator of the potential for skin damage.
It alerts people about the need to adopt protective measures when exposed to UVR.
The higher the UVI value, the greater the potential for damage to the skin and eye, and the less time it takes for harm to occur.
Sun protection measures should be used when the UVI reaches three or above.
Public health expert Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar warned that the UV rays may have an impact on our skin and eyes.
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“They can cause sunburn, premature ageing such as wrinkles and dark spots, as well as eye damage (cataracts, photokeratitis),” he warned.
The public is told to take steps to protect themselves from UV radiation, including using sun glasses and seeking shade during peak hours.
“UV rays are the strongest at about 10am to 4pm; the public needs to limit sun exposure during these hours. The best way is to try and stay safe under the sun,” he said.
