HABIT CHANGES MAY BE YOUR BEST FRIENDS

BRAYAN ALEXANDER CANO VSQUEZ

Global warming affects your skin more than you can imagine. You probably walk with
the enemy and feed it without you noticing. Lately, global warming has been one of the
topics most discussed in the world, due to the impact in human health and life. It is
strongly related to the Ozone layers destruction as a consequence of human pollution
and various industrial halogenated chemicals which destroy parts of it.
World Health Organization says: Many epidemiological studies have implicated solar
radiation as a cause of skin cancer (melanoma and other types) in fair-skinned humans.
Recent assessments by the United Nations Environment Program project increases in
skin cancer incidence and sunburn severity due to stratospheric ozone depletion for at
least the first half of the twenty-first century (and subject to changes in individual
behaviors). In addition, Cancer Research UK claims: Too much ultraviolet (UV)
radiation from the sun can damage the genetic material (the DNA) in your skin cells. If
enough DNA damage builds up over time, it can cause cells to start growing out of
control, which can lead to skin cancer.
Talking of what ultraviolet radiation can produce, it is important to know why that
radiation is stronger nowadays. The ozone layer or ozone shield refers to a region of
Earths stratosphere that absorbs most of the suns light which contains UV radiation,
that way it is possible to understand that while shield is weakening the UV radiations
impact will be worse. On the other hand, World Health Organization says that
contamination, pollution and various industrial halogenated chemicals such as the
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs used in refrigeration, insulation and spray-can propellants)
and methyl bromide, are the main adversary for ozone layer. Besides, these factors
react with ozone in the extremely cold polar stratosphere as a result of this, its
destruction of ozone occurs especially in late winter and early spring.
In conclusion, if contamination and pollution keep increasing UV radiation will be worse
day by day, that is why is quite important to change habits in order to contribute for the

planet and ozone layers health and human health at the same time. That way, we may
live safer and we could reduce the pollution of this planet in the future and as a result
ozone layer would be recovering itself and our environment and health would be better
by decreasing the damage from UV radiation and getting away from possible
consequences in our skin.

Referencias bibliogrficas

IARC. (1992). Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans (Vol. 55). Lyon.
Madronich, S. (1993). Skin cancer and UV radiation.
United Nations Environment Program. (1998). Environmental effects of ozone depletion.
Nairobi.
Wolrd Health Organization. (2016). Obtenido de World Health Organization Web site:
http://www.who.int/en/