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Overexposure to the Sun

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Submitted By rborunda82
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Overexposure to the sun is a significant global health issue. The atmosphere provides a natural protection against harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays that are emitted by the sun. However, depletion of the ozone layer has decreased that natural protection, leading to many health problems as a result (United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2010). Skin cancers, premature aging, cataracts and other eye damage, and problems with the immune system are all problems associated with overexposure to the sun. Anthropologists have theorized since 1934 that human skin color “is an evolutionary adaption to UV exposure” (Weishaar, 2013). The notion that the human race’s ancestors had darker skin because they lived near the equator, protecting them against the harmful effects of high UV levels, was made as an explanation as to how overexposure to the sun became a problem over time. Tom Weishaar, member of the Department of Health and Behavior Sutdies, explains that the migration of humans away from the equator resulted in lighter hues in skin color and a lack of adequate vitamin D synthesis in the skin, making them more at risk for health problems associated with overexposure. He further explains that the result is that individuals with darker skin are at risk in areas where there are lower levels of UV exposure and that, adversely, those with lighter skin are more at risk in areas with higher levels of UV exposure. The suggestion was made that public health professionals globally have a responsibility to address both of these issues, as both phenomena pose a significant health risk to the global population as a whole.
In the United States alone, almost 5 million people are treated for some type of skin cancer each year (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2014). This costs the US about $8.1 million annually, with $3.3 billion going towards treating melanoma.

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