The impact of solar ultraviolet radiation on human health in sub-Saharan Africa
Photoprotection messages and ‘SunSmart’ programmes exist mainly to prevent skin cancers and, more recently, to encourage adequate personal sun exposure to elicit a vitamin D response for healthy bone and immune systems. Several developed countries maintain intensive research networks and monitor...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Academy of Science of South Africa
2012-10-01
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| Series: | South African Journal of Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://192.168.0.108/index.php/sajs/article/view/9586 |
| _version_ | 1798028555901206528 |
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| author | Caradee Wright Mary Norval Beverley Summers Lester Davids Gerrie Coetzee Matthew Oriowo |
| author_facet | Caradee Wright Mary Norval Beverley Summers Lester Davids Gerrie Coetzee Matthew Oriowo |
| author_sort | Caradee Wright |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Photoprotection messages and ‘SunSmart’ programmes exist mainly to prevent skin cancers and, more recently, to encourage adequate personal sun exposure to elicit a vitamin D response for healthy bone and immune systems. Several developed countries maintain intensive research networks and monitor solar UV radiation to support awareness campaigns and intervention development. The situation is different in sub-Saharan Africa. Adequate empirical evidence of the impact of solar UV radiation on human health, even for melanomas and cataracts, is lacking, and is overshadowed by other factors such as communicable diseases, especially HIV, AIDS and tuberculosis. In addition, the established photoprotection messages used in developed countries have been adopted and implemented in a limited number of sub-Saharan countries but with minimal understanding of local conditions and behaviours. In this review, we consider the current evidence for sun-related effects on human health in sub-Saharan Africa, summarise published research and identify key issues. Data on the prevalence of human diseases affected by solar UV radiation in all subpopulations are not generally available, financial support is insufficient and the infrastructure to address these and other related topics is inadequate. Despite these limitations, considerable progress may be made regarding the management of solar UV radiation related health outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa, provided researchers collaborate and resources are allocated appropriately. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T19:11:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d1350eee016741f1b537c0e1ee43dafe |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-7489 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T19:11:10Z |
| publishDate | 2012-10-01 |
| publisher | Academy of Science of South Africa |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Journal of Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-d1350eee016741f1b537c0e1ee43dafe2022-12-22T04:07:37ZengAcademy of Science of South AfricaSouth African Journal of Science1996-74892012-10-0110811/12The impact of solar ultraviolet radiation on human health in sub-Saharan AfricaCaradee Wright0Mary Norval1Beverley Summers2Lester Davids3Gerrie Coetzee4Matthew Oriowo5Modelling and Environmental Health Research Group, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Natural Resources and the Environment, PretoriaBiomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh Medical School, EdinburghDepartment of Pharmacy / Photobiology Laboratory, University of Limpopo, PolokwaneDepartment of Human Biology, University of Cape Town Medical School, Cape TownSouth African Weather Services, PretoriaDepartment of Optometry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Limpopo, PolokwanePhotoprotection messages and ‘SunSmart’ programmes exist mainly to prevent skin cancers and, more recently, to encourage adequate personal sun exposure to elicit a vitamin D response for healthy bone and immune systems. Several developed countries maintain intensive research networks and monitor solar UV radiation to support awareness campaigns and intervention development. The situation is different in sub-Saharan Africa. Adequate empirical evidence of the impact of solar UV radiation on human health, even for melanomas and cataracts, is lacking, and is overshadowed by other factors such as communicable diseases, especially HIV, AIDS and tuberculosis. In addition, the established photoprotection messages used in developed countries have been adopted and implemented in a limited number of sub-Saharan countries but with minimal understanding of local conditions and behaviours. In this review, we consider the current evidence for sun-related effects on human health in sub-Saharan Africa, summarise published research and identify key issues. Data on the prevalence of human diseases affected by solar UV radiation in all subpopulations are not generally available, financial support is insufficient and the infrastructure to address these and other related topics is inadequate. Despite these limitations, considerable progress may be made regarding the management of solar UV radiation related health outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa, provided researchers collaborate and resources are allocated appropriately.http://192.168.0.108/index.php/sajs/article/view/9586solar UV radiationhuman healthskin cancersub-Saharan Africasun protection |
| spellingShingle | Caradee Wright Mary Norval Beverley Summers Lester Davids Gerrie Coetzee Matthew Oriowo The impact of solar ultraviolet radiation on human health in sub-Saharan Africa South African Journal of Science solar UV radiation human health skin cancer sub-Saharan Africa sun protection |
| title | The impact of solar ultraviolet radiation on human health in sub-Saharan Africa |
| title_full | The impact of solar ultraviolet radiation on human health in sub-Saharan Africa |
| title_fullStr | The impact of solar ultraviolet radiation on human health in sub-Saharan Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of solar ultraviolet radiation on human health in sub-Saharan Africa |
| title_short | The impact of solar ultraviolet radiation on human health in sub-Saharan Africa |
| title_sort | impact of solar ultraviolet radiation on human health in sub saharan africa |
| topic | solar UV radiation human health skin cancer sub-Saharan Africa sun protection |
| url | http://192.168.0.108/index.php/sajs/article/view/9586 |
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