Into every life some UV must fall.Sunlight's ultraviolet (UV) radiation can do damage. Over time, too much UV can cause premature aging (wrinkles and liver spots liver spots Age spots, lentigos, senile lentigines, sun-induced skin changes Dermatology A nonspecific lay term for red-brown skin lesions associated with aging–eg, pigmented seborrheic keratosis and lentigo senilis. See Lentigines. ), skin cancer, and cataracts and perhaps impair the immune system. For years, health workers have urged people to avoid overexposure overexposure too long an exposure time or too high a milliamperage causing too black a picture, loss of detail and some anomalies of translucency. by staying out of the sun as much as possible and by wearing sunblocks, sunglasses, hats, and ample clothing. Now, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Noun 1. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - an agency in the Department of Commerce that maps the oceans and conserves their living resources; predicts changes to the earth's environment; provides weather reports and forecasts floods and hurricanes and and the Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), independent agency of the U.S. government, with headquarters in Washington, D.C. It was established in 1970 to reduce and control air and water pollution, noise pollution, and radiation and to ensure the safe handling and offer the Experimental Ultraviolet Index. On June 28, NOAA NOAA abbr. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Noun 1. NOAA - an agency in the Department of Commerce that maps the oceans and conserves their living resources; predicts changes to the earth's environment; added this index--a prediction of UV radiation levels--to the National Weather Service's (NWS NWS National Weather Service NWS Naval Weapons Station NWS New World Symphony NWS Nuclear Weapon State NWS Not Work Safe NWS National Watercolor Society NWS North Warning System NWS Nose Wheel Steering NWS National Waste Strategy (UK) ) daily forecasts for 58 U.S. cities. NWS meteorologists use satellite and ground-based observations and computer models to forecast the UV level at its peak--noon standard time (1 p.m. daylight savings time). The 15-point index corresponds to five exposure categories set by EPA EPA eicosapentaenoic acid. EPA abbr. eicosapentaenoic acid EPA, n.pr See acid, eicosapentaenoic. EPA, n. ; a reading between 0 and 2 is considered "minimal," while a reading of 10 to 15 is termed "very high." Actual exposure and risk depend on a number of factors, including the duration and time of exposure (UV rays are only about half as intense 3 hours before or after the peak), physical surroundings (snow, sand, and water reflect more UV and intensify exposure), degree of cloudiness, skin coloration, and latitude and altitude (exposure increases with proximity to the equator and with altitude). EPA suggests that, when outdoors, people protect themselves against UV light whenever they can see their shadow.
Exposure Minutes to Burn for Minutes to Burn
Categories/ "Never Tans" for "Rarely Burns"
Index Values (most susceptible) (least susceptible)
Minimal 0-2 30 minutes >120 minutes
Low 4 15 minutes 75 minutes
Moderate 6 10 minutes 50 minutes
High 8 7.5 minutes 35 minutes
Very High 10 6 minutes 30 minutes
15 <4 minutes 20 minutes
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion