Prepared by Charles
V. Schwab, extension safety specialist; Janis
Stone, extension textiles and clothing specialist; and
Laura
Miller, extension communications.
Iowa State University Extension
Long
days outside in the warm glow of summer can be a serious hazard.
In recent years, scientists have found that environmental
pollution may deplete the earth's ozone layer that protects
the surface from the sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation.
Researchers also are learning more about the relationship
between these invisible sun rays and various forms of skin
cancer and diseases such as eye cataracts.
Skin
cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in the United
States. The American Cancer Society estimates that 900,000
new cases of the highly curable forms of skin cancer are diagnosed
each year. New cases of melanoma, the most serious and life-threatening
skin cancer, were expected to be 40,300 in 1997, with 7,300
cases resulting in death. Skin cancer has increased at a rate
of 4 percent each year since 1973, and is 20 times higher
among whites than African Americans.
These
trends have serious implications for farmers and others who
spend much of their working hours outdoors.
Research
has shown that cumulative sun exposure is a major factor in
development of skin cancer. Small changes occur in the skin
each time it is exposed to sunlight. People who burn easily,
rarely tan, freckle or have a fair complexion, have blonde or
red hair, or have blue or gray eyes, experience greater skin
changes. Skin cancer usually is not associated with a single,
painful sunburn, but rather with repeated exposure to the sun
and changes in the skin's makeup. The sun's rays are more damaging
during summer months and at midday hours than other times. However,
you can get a sunburn on a cloudy day during other seasons,
and at other times of the day. Cumulative sun exposure is the
major concern.
If you
notice a new growth, mole or discoloration, or a sudden change
in an existing mole, see a physician. Early detection of skin
cancer is the first step for successful treatment.
The back
of the neck, ears, face, and eyes are sensitive to sun exposure.
Luckily, these and other body parts easily can be protected
by wearing proper clothing, sunglasses, or sunscreen. By taking
precautions and avoiding the sun's most damaging rays, you
may be able to reduce your risk.
Protection
for the face and other parts of the head can be as simple
as wearing a hat. A classic study by the Wisconsin-based National
Farm Medicine Center found no "perfect hat" among
11 styles, however, some are better than others. When selecting
a hat, consider the following questions, and balance your
needs in each of these areas.
Coverage:
How much of your face, ears, and neck are shaded by the hat?
Although the baseball cap has been the Midwestern farmer's
trademark, it does not protect vulnerable areas on the ears,
temples, face, and neck. Other hats provide better protection,
such as wide-brimmed hats, pith helmets, hats with double
brims or removable flaps, and an Australian-style hat with
a full brim.
Coolness:
Is it cool enough to be worn on hot days? The hat also must
be practical for other conditions, such as high humidity,
strong winds, blowing dust, and sporadic rain showers.
Comfort:
How does the hat feel? Will it stay on during various tasks?
Can you wear it around animals or in close quarters? Does
it limit vision or hearing?
Commitment:
Will you wear it? The most well-designed hat is ineffective
if it's seldom worn. An ISU study found that farmers think
it is most important for a hat to be made of sun-blocking
material, have a full brim, be light weight and low in cost.
The thought
of wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants in the summer
might sound uncomfortable, but proper clothing can protect
against the sun and minimize heat stress. Lightweight clothing,
preferably 100 percent cotton, provides both comfort and protection.
Parts
of the body that are not covered by clothes can be protected
with sunscreen lotions. Sunscreens are not a substitute for
wearing proper clothing. They also can give users a false
security. Sunscreens recommended for outdoor workers should
have a sun protection factor (SPF) rating of at least 15.
This means that you are protected from a reaction to the sun's
effects 15 times longer than you are without the sunscreen.
Read the label to know when to re-apply sunscreen and whether
it is waterproof.
The easiest
way to reduce exposure to ultraviolet radiation is to avoid
the sun. Critical times are midday hours between 10 a.m. and
3 p.m. This may be impossible for some active individuals,
but scheduling tasks around this period could reduce exposure
when the sun is most dangerous.
Even
the most effective hats can block only 50 percent of the ultraviolet
rays that reach the eyes. A good shade hat combined with the
use of sunglasses is a better way to protect eyes from sun
exposure.
Use caution
when selecting sunglasses because they vary widely in the
amount of protection from ultraviolet radiation. A peel-off
label on the lens indicates its UV rating, or percentage of
ultraviolet rays blocked by the sunglasses (the best rating
is 100). If no information is provided by the manufacturer,
the sunglasses may not offer any added protection.
Remember
that people who spend a lot of time outdoors in work or leisure
activities can suffer from more than just exhaustion or heat
stress. They are at risk for skin cancer and other diseases
that result from years of exposure to the sun. Be aware of
risks and make it a habit to protect yourself from sun exposure.
How much do you know ?
1. Skin
cancer affects more than __ Americans every year.
a) 9,000
b) 90,000
c) 900,000
2. A
baseball cap will protect you from harmful rays from the sun.
True or false?
3. Wearing
a hat will keep all the sun's ultraviolet rays out of your
eyes. True or false?
4. All
sunglasses protect eyes from the sun's ultraviolet rays. True
or false?
5. You
can avoid the sun's most damaging rays by
a) avoiding
sun from 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
b) wearing
a wide- brimmed hat.
c) using
sunscreen with protection factor (SPF) of 15 or greater.
d) wearing
pants and a long-sleeved shirt.
[Answers
to quiz: 1-c; 2-False; 3--False; 4-False; 5-a, b, c, d]
- Examine
the hat you wear for field work. Determine if it protects
your ears, face, temples, and neck from the sun.
- Visit
your doctor regularly to determine whether you have the
warning signs of skin cancer.
- Encourage
employees and family members to use proper eye and skin
protection from the sun.
- Check
the UV rating of your sunglasses. If the rating is low or
you cannot find it, purchase new glasses with a higher rating.
- Select
sunscreen lotion that provides adequate protection for your
situation. Keep it handy and use it when needed.
Disclaimer
and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not represent
NIOSH policy. Information included in NASD appears by permission
of the author and/or copyright holder. More
NASD Review: 04/2002
For
more information
Information
about skin cancer can be obtained from the American Cancer
Society, (800) 688-0147. For a list of hat sources, contact
Jan Stone, 1055 LeBaron Hall, Ames, IA 50011.
A
survey during the 1996 Farm Progress Show showed that 40 percent
of all respondents worked in the summer sun more than 4 hours
a day; 60 percent agreed a sun-blocking hat material was important.
Farmers were less likely than others to say that design and
appearance, color, and logos were important hat features.
For
a free fact sheet that shows various hat designs, contact
your county extension office for a copy of Is it time to change
your hat?, Pm-1683. Other information is available from the
National Farm Medicine Center, (800) 662-6900.
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