Spring Break
Global warming-fueled summer could lead to medical troubles
Brett Gifford
Issue date: 5/13/09 Section: News
Finals week is all that stands between students and the freedom of summer, but with the sunny weather comes seasonal health issues.
Eugene Cordero, an associate professor of meteorology, said that San Jose tied or broke its all-time record highs for the 20th and 21st of April during this year's mid-April heat wave.
The highs on campus for those days were 92 degrees and 94 degrees, respectively, according to the Weather.com Web site.
It is difficult to predict if the summer months will follow suit, but because of global warming, more record-breaking temperatures can be expected, Cordero said.
Skin issues become a problem because of ample sunshine, said Stephanie Bowens, a senior health science major.
"Getting too tan can cause complications that lead to skin cancer," Bowens said. "It is so important to use SPF 15 sun lotion."
Nine out of 10 cases of non-melanoma skin cancers are a result of ultraviolet radiation from the sun, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation's Web site.
People of all races and skin colors need to use sunblock, Bowens said.
Although skin cancers, such as melanoma, are uncommon among African-Americans, Latinos and Asians, it is often fatal for people of these populations, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation's Web site.
"Being outside between 10 and two, you should definitely be wearing sunscreen and a hat, or try to limit your exposure in the middle of the day," said Cordero.
The Ultraviolet Index, more commonly known as the U.V. Index, is a scale developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the National Weather Service to measure ultraviolet radiation levels.
Cordero said it is strongest in the middle of the day, during the summer.
Air pollution, in the form of ozone, is a major cause of respiratory illness in the summer months, according to YourLungHealth.org.
"Asthma begins to flare in the summer," Bowens said. "Although we have smog all year, the summer heat activates it."
Eugene Cordero, an associate professor of meteorology, said that San Jose tied or broke its all-time record highs for the 20th and 21st of April during this year's mid-April heat wave.
The highs on campus for those days were 92 degrees and 94 degrees, respectively, according to the Weather.com Web site.
It is difficult to predict if the summer months will follow suit, but because of global warming, more record-breaking temperatures can be expected, Cordero said.
Skin issues become a problem because of ample sunshine, said Stephanie Bowens, a senior health science major.
"Getting too tan can cause complications that lead to skin cancer," Bowens said. "It is so important to use SPF 15 sun lotion."
Nine out of 10 cases of non-melanoma skin cancers are a result of ultraviolet radiation from the sun, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation's Web site.
People of all races and skin colors need to use sunblock, Bowens said.
Although skin cancers, such as melanoma, are uncommon among African-Americans, Latinos and Asians, it is often fatal for people of these populations, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation's Web site.
"Being outside between 10 and two, you should definitely be wearing sunscreen and a hat, or try to limit your exposure in the middle of the day," said Cordero.
The Ultraviolet Index, more commonly known as the U.V. Index, is a scale developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the National Weather Service to measure ultraviolet radiation levels.
Cordero said it is strongest in the middle of the day, during the summer.
Air pollution, in the form of ozone, is a major cause of respiratory illness in the summer months, according to YourLungHealth.org.
"Asthma begins to flare in the summer," Bowens said. "Although we have smog all year, the summer heat activates it."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Ashley
posted 6/09/09 @ 3:49 PM PST
This article is well written and there is truth in the problem it warns of.
However, media needs to stop using the term "global warming." This is not an adequate term for what changes are happening to planet Earth. (Continued…)
meladerm
posted 8/24/09 @ 9:19 AM PST
The sun can be so damaging to the skin. We need to stay protected.
Post a Comment