WHO: Sun Exposure Kills 60,000 Worldwide Each Year

published by sandi


Around 60,000 people worldwide die each year from skin cancer caused by too much sun exposure, according to a new estimate by the World Health Organization (WHO). The agency released a report Thursday detailing 9 diseases and conditions caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and estimating their impact on global health.

Melanoma is the deadliest disease caused by the sun, and the primary cause of UV-related disease in the Americas, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Brunei, Japan and Singapore. The WHO says 50%-90% of all melanomas are caused by too much sun exposure.

Excess UV exposure also causes most cases of non-melanoma skin cancers, the agency said. It estimates that 50%-90% of basal cell carcinomas and 50%-70% of squamous cell carcinomas are due to too much sun. The sun also causes a rare type of eye cancer called squamous cell carcinoma of the cornea or conjunctiva.

Using data from the year 2000, the agency calculated that these deadly skin cancers killed between 41,000 and 71,000 people, with the most likely figure being around 60,000.
Slip, Slop, Slap

The report serves as an important reminder to take precautions in the sun, said Martin A. Weinstock, MD, a professor of dermatology at Brown Medical School and chair of the American Cancer Society's Skin Cancer Advisory Group.

ACS recommends limiting sun exposure between the hours of 10 AM and 4 PM, when the sun's rays are most intense. If you are outside, ACS recommends seeking shade, using sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher, and covering up with hats, sunglasses, and long-sleeved clothing when possible. It is also important to avoid tanning beds and sunlamps, and check your skin regularly for any new moles or unusual spots. The WHO report offers similar advice.

"The recommendations in the WHO report reinforce those of the ACS, which advocates 'Slip!, Slop!, Slap!'; that is Slip on a shirt, Slop on the sunscreen, and Slap on a hat," Weinstock said.

Following those recommendations not only could help prevent skin cancer, but also other conditions. The WHO report lists solar keratoses (a type of skin spot that can lead to cancer), sunburn, cataracts, cold sores, and pterygium (an eye condition) as other diseases directly caused by too much sun.
Some Sun Exposure Beneficial

The report also notes that some sun exposure is beneficial to human health because it helps the body produce vitamin D. This nutrient is essential for strong bones and may even play a role in preventing other diseases.

People with dark skin who live in areas without much UV light and others who do not get a lot of sun exposure, such as prisoners and people who cover their bodies with clothing for religious or cultural reasons, should consult their doctors about taking a vitamin D supplement, the agency says. However, it says the overexposure to the sun is a bigger health threat than underexposure.

The American Cancer Society recently joined other health organizations in calling for greater research into vitamin D to determine how much is needed for good health and disease prevention.