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INTRODUCTION
The increase in the depletion of the ozone layer (a sheath covering the atmosphere) is responsible for protecting humans from the risk of being exposed to harmful Ultraviolet radiation (WHO, 2021). It is a matter of public health concern because it has been reported that overexposure to solar ultraviolet radiation has been associated with different forms of skin cancers, skin aging, cataract, and immune suppression (WHO, 2017). This has resulted in disability (blindness), suffering, and a financial burden (WHO, 2017). One report has shown that over two (2) million non-melanoma skin cancers and 200,000 malignant melanomas occur worldwide every year (WHO, 2017). It has also been predicted that the number of non-melanoma skin cancers and malignant melanomas will keep multiplying as depletion of the ozone layer continues (WHO, 2017). Therefore, a good understanding of ultraviolet radiation, mechanism of action, and its health risk and benefits are essential for normal precautionary measures to be applied (WHO, 2O21).
Ultraviolet (UV) radiations have been explained as non-ionizing radiations with wavelength ranging between 100 and 400 nm in the electromagnetic spectrum (WHO, 2017). UV can be classified into longest wavelength (UVA= 315 - 400 nm), medium wavelength (UVB=280 - 315 nm), and shortest wavelength (UVC= 100 - 280 nm) regions, although other conventions for UVA, UVB, and UVC wavelength bands are in use. The radiations wavelengths, including the shortest wavelength, are capable of causing severe damage to organisms and humans. However, most of this short-wave radiation is absorbed by stratospheric gases (ozone), and very little reaches the surface (Fondriest Environmental, 2014). Apart from the natural ultraviolet radiations, there exist artificial sources of UV radiations. They include various lamps used in medicine, industry, commerce, research, and the home. Biological effects exerted by the ultraviolet rays is dependent on the wavelength of the radiation emitted by the source (Romanhole et al., 2015)
The human skin is one of the most affected parts of the human body. The skin is directly exposed to ultraviolet radiation. Unprotected exposure to UV radiation is the most preventable risk factor for skin cancer (WHO, 2021). The level of damage UV radiation to the skin is dependent on the incident, intensity, and wavelength c of the longest (UVA) and medium (UVB), including the depth of penetration into the skin (Romanhole et al., 2015; Fernández et al., 2016). Acute effects on the skin include solar erythema, "sunburn", which, if severe enough, may result in blistering and destruction of the surface of the skin with secondary infection and systemic effects, similar to those resulting in heat burn. (WHO, 2017) Also, the chronic skin changes due to UV radiation consist of skin cancer (Teng et al., 2021), benign abnormalities of melanocytes, and damage to the skin resulting in premature aging of individuals (WHO, 2021).
The eye is also an affected part by ultraviolet radiation. The short-term effect includes the development of photokeratitis and photo conjunctivitis. These effects could be reversible by the use of appropriate lenses. The long-term effects include the development of pterygium and squamous cell cancer of the conjunctiva and cataracts. Although cataracts are curable these days with surgical procedures Research has shown that UV radiation increases the likelihood of certain cataracts (WHO, 2021).
The immune system is also affected by UV radiations, which have been reported in several studies in both animal and human studies (WHO, 2017). This occurs because overexposure of the skin to UV radiations weakens the immune system, reducing the skin’s ability to protect against these invaders, as such resulting in the inability of the skin to defend the body from cancers and infections (USEPA, 2021).
Beneficial aspects of the UV radiations have been demonstrated in the ticket through the synthesis of vitamin D associated with preventing type 1 diabetes and heart?associated diseases (hypertension) (Weller et al., 2020). It has specifically been reported that UVB radiation penetrating the skin synthesizes adequate vitamin D levels from sunlight (Rivas et al., 2015). It has also been reported that UV radiation is responsible for inducing molecules that can regulate cell maturation in developing organs (Prue et al., 2019). UV radiation has also been reported to be important in the treatment and management of psoriasis (a disease that produces sores and scaling of the skin) and vitiligo (a patchy loss of skin pigmentation caused by the destruction of the pigment-producing cells called melanocytes) (WHO, 2017). Although UV radiation plays an important role in its medical applications, some authors think that the harmful effects of exposure to UV radiation outweigh the benefits (Romanhole et al., 2015; Fernández et al., 2016; WHO, 2021). Therefore, this present study will focus on determining the effect of ultraviolet radiation on humans’ health.
AIM
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
RESEARCH PROBLEM
Ultraviolet radiation is a risk factor for several chronic diseases. It is a matter of public health concern because it has been reported that overexposure to solar ultraviolet radiation has been associated with different forms of skin cancers, skin aging, cataract, and immune suppression (WHO, 2017). The outcomes of these effects on the skin include increased morbidity and mortality rates. It also leads to disability (blindness), suffering, and a financial burden (WHO, 2017). According to one United Nations report, estimated that over 2 million non-melanoma skin cancers and 200,000 malignant melanomas occur worldwide every year (WHO, 2017). It has also been predicted that the number of non-melanoma skin cancers and malignant melanomas will keep multiplying as depletion of the ozone layer continues. Therefore, the present study will investigate the effect of ultraviolet radiation on humans’ health.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
Research has shown that ultraviolet radiation has both positive and negative effects on health. Although UV radiation plays an important role in its medical applications, some authors think that the harmful effects of exposure to UV radiation outweigh the benefits (Weller et al., 2020; Prue et al., 2019; Romanhole et al., 2015; Fernández et al., 2016; WHO, 2021). Therefore, this present study will determine the effect of ultraviolet radiation on humans’ health. This will add to knowledge and proffer solutions to the existing controversy.
METHODOLOGY
ANALYSIS
The following will be used for analysis in this review, they are; cluster analysis (CA) and/or factor analysis (FA), and/or principal component analysis (PCA). The results will be presented as odds ratios (OR).
RISK ASSESSMENT
The risk assessment conducted for this project is provided in the table below:
Table 1: Risk assessment
Risk
Impact
Mitigation Plan
Inability to meet the deadline
Low
Get an extension from the supervisor in due time
Inability to get required process inputs, skill, and manpower
Moderate
Refer to municipalities and research institutes for help
Inability to properly develop the process set up
High
Refer to your supervisor for help
Insufficient data
Refer to journals and textbooks for help
SCHEDULE
Table 2: Project Plan
Task Name
Start Date
End Date
Duration (Days)
Initial Research
15/01/2022
29/01/2022
14
Proposal
06/02/2022
21
Introduction Chapter
18/03/2022
23/03/2022
5
Literature Review Chapter
20/04/2022
24
Methodology Chapter
02/05/2022
12
Presentation 1
02/07/2022
10/07/2022
8
Analysis
24/07/2022
Evaluation of Gotten Results
01/08/2022
7
Discussion Chapter
11/08/2022
10
Evaluation Chapter
16/08/2022
Conclusion Chapter
18/08/2022
2
Project Management Chapter
20/08/2022
Abstract and Report compilation
22/08/2022
Report Proofreading
01/09/2022
Presentation 2
11/09/2022
REFERENCES
Fernández, E., Fajarí, L., Rodríguez, G., Cócera, M., Moner, V., Barbosa-Barros, L., Kamma-Lorger, C. S., de La Maza, A., & López, O. (2016). Reducing the Harmful Effects of Infrared Radiation on the Skin Using Bicosomes Incorporating β-Carotene. Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 29(4), 169–177. https://doi.org/10.1159/000447015
Fondriest Environmental, Inc. (2014) “Solar Radiation and Photosynethically Active Radiation.” Fundamentals of Environmental Measurements. Web. .
Prue, H. H., Mary, N., Scott N. B. and Lesley E. R. (2019) Exposure to Ultraviolet Radiation in the Modulation of Human Diseases. Annual Review of Pathology: 14:1, 55-81
Rivas, M., Rojas, E., Araya, M. C., & Calaf, G. M. (2015). Ultraviolet light exposure, skin cancer risk, and vitamin D production. Oncology Letters, 10(4), 2259–2264. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2015.3519
Romanhole, R. C., Ataide, J. A., Moriel, P., & Mazzola, P. G. (2015). Update on ultraviolet A and B radiation generated by the sun and artificial lamps and their effects on the skin. International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 37(4), 366–370. https://doi.org/10.1111/ics.12219
Teng, Y., Yu, Y., Li, S., Huang, Y., Xu, D., Tao, X., & Fan, Y. (2021). Ultraviolet Radiation and Basal Cell Carcinoma: An Environmental Perspective. In Frontiers in Public Health (Vol. 9). Frontiers Media S.A. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.666528
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) (2021) Health effects of UV radiation https://www.epa.gov/sunsafety/health-effects-uv-radiation
Weller, R. B., Wang, Y., He, J., Maddux, F. W., Usvyat, L., Zhang, H., Feelisch, M., & Kotanko, P. (2020). Does incident solar ultraviolet radiation lower blood pressure? Journal of the American Heart Association, 9(5). https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.119.013837
World Health Organization (2021) Do UVA and UVB affects the body differently. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheet/details/UVA-UVB
World Health Organization (2017) Do UVA and UVB affects the body differently. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheet/details/UVA-UVB
Last updated: Feb 02, 2022 08:18 AM
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