HOME >> BIOLOGY >> NEWS
Skin expert issues winter sports warning

SKIERS and snowboarders should heed sun safety messages this winter to reduce the risk of developing skin cancer, says an expert from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.

Millions of winter sports men and women will be heading for the slopes of Europe, America and elsewhere this season and the some of the worlds finest atheletes will compete in the Winter Olympics in Utah in February 2002.

Few think they need to worry about the effects of the sun the wrong attitude, says skin cancer expert Dr Mark Birch-Machin.

He says indulging in high altitude winter sports can expose the skin to very high levels of the suns harmful UV rays. Holidaymakers therefore need to take as much care of their skin on a skiing or snowboarding break as they would do on a summer beach vacation.

Dr Birch-Machin points out that many of the world's ski resorts enjoy very sunny days - but he says that even in cloudy weather the UV rays in sunlight penetrate through to the slopes.

Snow also reflects 85% of the sun's harmful UV rays, which bounce back off the ground. This means that skiers and snowboarders can be burnt in body areas such as under the chin and nose. This can also occur in the shade.

The higher skiers and snowboarders go, the greater their risk of serious sunburn because there is less atmosphere to filter the UV rays. In general the air filters 4% less UV rays for every 1,000 feet above sea level - meaning that at an altitude of 5,000 feet - and most ski resorts in Europe and the US stand at or above this height there is 20% more UV radiation than at sea level.

This is made worse by the fact that the parts of the body usually exposed to the sun on a ski holiday particularly the face - are the most likely areas for skin cancer to develop.

In addition, keen skiers and snowboarders will be exposed to the suns UV rays on the slopes for six to seven hours per day.

Increased sun exposure during both win
'"/>

Contact: Dr Mark Birch-Machin
m.a.birch-machin@newcastle.ac.uk
+ 44 (0) 191 222 5841
University of Newcastle upon Tyne
15-Nov-2001


Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. AAAS expert panel calls for voter-system research and reform
2. Rutgers cancer prevention expert calls for FDA action to reduce colon cancer and osteoporosis
3. National nanotech expert to address UW-Madison conference
4. Leading experts in field of gene therapy to meet in Minneapolis
5. UC San Diego bioinformatics experts help reconstruct the genomic makeup of our ancestors
6. Veterinarians, wildlife experts applaud Chinas ban of wild bird trade
7. Risk and food are on the same plate: World food safety experts offer new methods to assess risk
8. Avian flu: Shut down wild bird markets, experts say
9. Gulf between rich, poor will grow if high-profile nanotechnology opponents prevail: ethics experts
10. Controversial UK badger killings analyzed by UC Davis expert
11. Physician experts available to speak on California fires and smoke inhalation

Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
TAG: Skin expert issues winter sports warning

(Date:5/18/2013)... today at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) explores new discoveries ... of coffee on autoimmune disease and palliative care for ... been associated with reduced risk of fibrosis, a new ... java each month also correlate with lower risk for ... Clinic, Rochester, MN, linked coffee consumption with reduced risk ...
(Date:5/18/2013)... 18, 2013) An increasing number of U.S. ... to resolve, according to research presented at Digestive ... targeting obesity, researchers at the Cleveland Clinic Children,s ... pattern of exhaled breath compared to their lean ... compound levels that can be correlated to potential ...
(Date:5/17/2013)... of the South, but the night belongs to the amphibians. ... from the humidity and the sounds of wildlife. , ... toads and salamanders, is the center of amphibian biodiversity in ... auditorium for their symphonic choruses, the scientists of the U.S. ... front-row seats. , Amphibians, which rely on water ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Coffee consumption associated with reduced risk of autoimmune liver disease 2New research identifies risks, interventions for children's GI health 2New research identifies risks, interventions for children's GI health 3Front-row seats to climate change 2Front-row seats to climate change 3Front-row seats to climate change 4
(Date:5/17/2013)... May 17, 2013 IAC Industries wants to ... start up laboratory needing to set up and furnish a ... a larger facility within a year’s time. How does a ... the laboratory is temporary? What is efficient and cost-effective? ... workstations from IAC Industries. The planners at DisperSol determined that ...
(Date:5/16/2013)... (PRWEB) May 16, 2013 ... Barbara A. Myers, CAE, to the newly created ... her new role, Myers will be responsible for ... and production strategies, advancing the Society’s Member-led and ... and continuing to refine organizational, membership and product ...
(Date:5/16/2013)... May 16, 2013 A new ... models, from Cole-Parmer is designed to meet the ... includes: , The new Cole-Parmer® MS-3400 Centrifuges ... in the lab. They ensure a powerful and ... specimen separation. Their standard four-place swinging buckets hold ...
(Date:5/16/2013)... 2013  HealthSparq, a trusted provider of healthcare ... regional health plans, will debut a new benchmark ... Institute 2013 conference on June 13.  The presentation ... health insurance companies across the country are thinking ... demands for increased healthcare transparency. ...
Breaking Biology Technology:New Downloadable Success Story: “How To Outfit a Dynamic Lab in Flux” 2ISPE Names Barbara A. Myers, CAE, as Vice President of Professional Development 2Cole-Parmer Offers Enhanced Selection of Centrifuges 2HealthSparq to Reveal New Healthcare Transparency Benchmark Study at AHIP Institute 2013 2HealthSparq to Reveal New Healthcare Transparency Benchmark Study at AHIP Institute 2013 3
Cached News: