Understanding Uv Radiation
Understanding UV radiation The sun sends out different types of radiation – visible light that we see as sunlight, infrared radiation felt as heat and UV radiation that we can't see or feel.
Are there different types of radiation in sunlight?
Yes. The types of radiation include
• visible light, which gives us the colours we see,
• infrared radiation which gives us the warmth we feel, and
• ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
Except in extreme situations, neither visible light nor infrared radiation from sunlight causes health problems. However, ultraviolet (UV) radiation can cause harmful effects to the skin.
There are three basic types of ultraviolet radiation:
• UVA (long-wave UV),
• UVB (sunburn UV), and
UVC (short-wave UV)
Types of UV radiation
There are three types of UV radiation, categorised by wavelength: UVA, UVB and UVC. • UVA can cause sunburn, DNA (cell) damage in the skin and skin cancer. • UVB causes skin damage and skin cancer. Ozone stops most UVB from reaching the earth's surface. • UVC is the most dangerous type of UV. Ozone in the atmosphere absorbs all UVC so none reaches the earth's surface. .
Health risks
Too much ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure can cause sunburn, premature ageing and skin damage leading to skin cancer. It can also cause eye damage.
Too little UV exposure can lead to vitamin D deficiency, which can weaken bones and muscles and affect overall health.
Sunburn is a radiation burn to the skin
Find out the facts about sunburn, the degrees of sunburn and treatment.
Eye damage
Sun-related eye damage includes photoconjunctivitis, which is also known as snow blindness or welders flash, photokeratitis, macular degeneration, cataracts, pterygiums and skin cancer of the conjunctiva and skin surrounding the eye.
Premature ageing
Most visible signs of ageing are from skin damage caused by exposure to UV radiation. This can include skin wrinkling, sagging, blotchiness and roughness.
Are there different types of radiation in sunlight?
Yes. The types of radiation include
• visible light, which gives us the colours we see,
• infrared radiation which gives us the warmth we feel, and
• ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
Except in extreme situations, neither visible light nor infrared radiation from sunlight causes health problems. However, ultraviolet (UV) radiation can cause harmful effects to the skin.
There are three basic types of ultraviolet radiation:
• UVA (long-wave UV),
• UVB (sunburn UV), and
UVC (short-wave UV)
Types of UV radiation
There are three types of UV radiation, categorised by wavelength: UVA, UVB and UVC. • UVA can cause sunburn, DNA (cell) damage in the skin and skin cancer. • UVB causes skin damage and skin cancer. Ozone stops most UVB from reaching the earth's surface. • UVC is the most dangerous type of UV. Ozone in the atmosphere absorbs all UVC so none reaches the earth's surface. .
Health risks
Too much ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure can cause sunburn, premature ageing and skin damage leading to skin cancer. It can also cause eye damage.
Too little UV exposure can lead to vitamin D deficiency, which can weaken bones and muscles and affect overall health.
Sunburn is a radiation burn to the skin
Find out the facts about sunburn, the degrees of sunburn and treatment.
Eye damage
Sun-related eye damage includes photoconjunctivitis, which is also known as snow blindness or welders flash, photokeratitis, macular degeneration, cataracts, pterygiums and skin cancer of the conjunctiva and skin surrounding the eye.
Premature ageing
Most visible signs of ageing are from skin damage caused by exposure to UV radiation. This can include skin wrinkling, sagging, blotchiness and roughness.