SHow the earth affects our risk of skin cancer
There are many reasons that one may become afflicted with skin cancer. A person’s heredity, skin type and UV exposure are all things to take under consideration when properly assessing the risk of skin cancer. However, more and more, skin cancer cases are being diagnosed at an increasing rate. Could this be due to lifestyle changes? It’s possible, but not altogether a confident hypothesis. One thing that may be increasing our risk for skin cancer is the condition of our planet.
Affect of O-Zone Layer
The O-zone layer is a crucial part of our atmosphere. Consisting of triple-bonds of oxygen, this layer found on our planet helps to reduce the amount of ultra-violet rays that hit our surface. This layer, while key to our survival, is under attack by our very way of life. Pollution and climate change has eliminated as much as fifty percent of the higher layers of the O-zone layer, causing concern among scientists.
Approximately thirty percent of the crucial layer in its entirety has already been destroyed. Since the depletion of the O-zone layer has reached epic proportions, more and more cases of skin cancer are being diagnosed. The Environment Program of the United Nations has even put out an estimate that for every one percent of the ozone layer we lose, there will be a two to three percent rise in the average person’s chance of getting skin cancer.
Take Care with Sun Rays
For this reason, it’s vital to take every precaution that you can when exposing yourself to the increasingly dangerous rays of the sun. If you’re not out looking for a tan, cover up the best you can and wear a hat. Thin layers of clothing do little to prevent the transmission of UV rays, so be sure to wear tightly woven clothing, preferably dark in color.
Tierra del Fuego
In addition to the risks presented to humans by the demolition of the O-zone layer, plants are affected by the increased UV rays as well. Studies conducted in Tierra del Fuego correlated an increased risk of DNA damage to plants that received higher levels of ultra-violet exposure.
Chlorofluorocarbons
So, what can you do personally to help avert further reduction of the O-zone layer? Unfortunately, as one person, there’s little that you can do. Chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, were discovered to cause damage to the O-zone layer over a decade ago and are now banned, making the individual’s contribution to the destruction of the O-zone layer severely lessened.