Sunscreen Lab
The efficacy of sunscreen of different protectant levels to protect bacteria from ultra-violet (UV) light
Ben Mitchell, Brigette Geniusz, Tylor Holcomb, Mark Kendrick
June 16, 2014
Abstract:
The efficacy of sunscreen is important because it blocks potentially harmful UV light, which may be a primary factor in skin cancer. Different levels of sun screen were tested alongside lotion and no treatment to see how well they protected Escherichia coli strain K-12 (Ecoli K-12) from UV light. The group that was treated with the strongest level of sunscreen had the highest average percent survival of any group. This would support the idea that higher level protectant sunscreen does in fact provide more protection from potentially harmful UV light.
Introduction:
The use of sun protection has become a much more common topic of conversation among the general population over the last decade. This can be attributed to several different factors. In some instances, environmental concerns over depleting ozone and higher levels of radiation penetration are the cause. Another important reason is that well over half of all new cancers in the United States are skin cancers (Capelle, 2006, pg. 1). Ultra-violet (UV) light is the cause of these cancers. There are several types of UV light. According to Gonzaga sunlight is made up of a broad spectrum of light. This spectrum is divided by wavelength in UV light. There are three types of UV light; UVA, UVB, and UVC (Gonzaga, 2009, 19). UVC is almost completely absorbed by the ozone. UVA and UVB are the two types of UV light that penetrate and affect people. UVA penetrates deeper into the skin and can cause immediate darkening of pigments, there is increasing thought that UVA may have more to do with photodamage than thought previously (Gonzaga, 2009, 21). UVB light ranges from 290 mm to 320 mm and is carcinogenic. It does not penetrate as deeply into the skin as UVA, however it has several acute effects including
Ben Mitchell, Brigette Geniusz, Tylor Holcomb, Mark Kendrick
June 16, 2014
Abstract:
The efficacy of sunscreen is important because it blocks potentially harmful UV light, which may be a primary factor in skin cancer. Different levels of sun screen were tested alongside lotion and no treatment to see how well they protected Escherichia coli strain K-12 (Ecoli K-12) from UV light. The group that was treated with the strongest level of sunscreen had the highest average percent survival of any group. This would support the idea that higher level protectant sunscreen does in fact provide more protection from potentially harmful UV light.
Introduction:
The use of sun protection has become a much more common topic of conversation among the general population over the last decade. This can be attributed to several different factors. In some instances, environmental concerns over depleting ozone and higher levels of radiation penetration are the cause. Another important reason is that well over half of all new cancers in the United States are skin cancers (Capelle, 2006, pg. 1). Ultra-violet (UV) light is the cause of these cancers. There are several types of UV light. According to Gonzaga sunlight is made up of a broad spectrum of light. This spectrum is divided by wavelength in UV light. There are three types of UV light; UVA, UVB, and UVC (Gonzaga, 2009, 19). UVC is almost completely absorbed by the ozone. UVA and UVB are the two types of UV light that penetrate and affect people. UVA penetrates deeper into the skin and can cause immediate darkening of pigments, there is increasing thought that UVA may have more to do with photodamage than thought previously (Gonzaga, 2009, 21). UVB light ranges from 290 mm to 320 mm and is carcinogenic. It does not penetrate as deeply into the skin as UVA, however it has several acute effects including