UV radiation
What exactly is UV radiation? And why do we need to protect ourselves and our children so well from it?
UV radiation is defined as ultraviolet light, which is a form of electromagnetic radiation. It is not visible to us and cannot be perceived by other sensory organs.
When solar radiation penetrates the atmosphere, UV-C radiation and 90% of UV-B radiation are filtered out by the Earth's atmosphere. However, all of the UV-A and 10% of the UV-B radiation reach the Earth and thus also us humans.
UV radiation is therefore divided into 3 categories:
The shorter the wavelength, the more energetic the radiation and the more damaging it is. The season, proximity to the equator and time of day also determine the strength of UV radiation. Even on cloudy days, we are exposed to UV radiation and even a parasol only filters out 10-30% of the UV radiation.
The rays can then be further amplified by being reflected by snow, sand and water.
What effects does UV radiation have on our body?
UV radiation is considered carcinogenic and can cause long-term damage to the skin and eyes. The UV rays can penetrate there and be absorbed by the cells. One of the most serious effects is damage to the genetic material (DNA) - and no, this does not only happen when you get sunburned, but much earlier.
If we expose ourselves to intense UV radiation (e.g. sunburn), our systems become overloaded. This can lead to damage that our body can no longer repair on its own.
The effects can occur within minutes, hours and days after UV radiation (short term). In the eyes, they manifest as corneal inflammation, conjunctivitis or retinal damage. (Skin: sunburn, pigmentation, sun allergy, suppression of the immune system)
The long-term consequences include clouding of the lens, also known as “cataracts”. (Skin: Aging and skin cancer)
That is the shocking truth. But what is worse is that children's eyes are much more sensitive than those of adults. Their lenses are brighter and their pupils are larger. This means that more UV rays reach the inside of the eye and can cause significant damage to the retina. That is why it is so important to be aware of these effects and to protect children's eyes sufficiently.
How can we best protect ourselves from harmful UV rays?
After these shocking facts, it is now time to ask ourselves the question: How can I most effectively protect myself and my loved ones from UV radiation?
It is obvious that the first step is to avoid the sun.
But as already mentioned, UV rays reach us even on cloudy days, and especially for children, it is difficult to avoid sun rays when playing in the water, on the beach or in the snow.
A tried and tested remedy is the sun hat, which of course protects the scalp, but what about the eyes? These are particularly at risk from the reflection of the sun. That is why it is essential to wear high-quality sunglasses.
And best of all: always have these with you as a must-have
In our next article you can read what makes a good pair of sunglasses and what you should look out for when buying them.
Thanks for reading :]
Laura
If you are now even more interested in this topic, you can read more about it in the following articles.
What is UV radiation?
Federal Office for Radiation Protection: https://www.bfs.de/DE/themen/opt/uv/einfuehrung/einfuehrung_node.html
(10.12.2021)
Why skin cancer occurs so often in the eyes - and how you can protect yourself:
https://www.geo.de/wissen/gesundheit/21560-rtkl-uv-strahl-warum-hautkrebs-so-oft-am-auge-aufnahme-und-wie-sie-sich
(10.12.2021)
How dangerous is UV radiation for the eyes?
https://www.care-vision.de/blog/wie-gefaehrlich-ist-das-uv-licht-fuer-die-augen/
(10.12.2021)