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Science
Friday > Archives
> 1999
> July
> July 2, 1999:
Hour One: Summer Sun Dangers
Perhaps you're heading to the beach this weekend, or planning some serious barbecuing, or just camping out early to get a good view of the fireworks. Chances are good that you'll be soaking up at least a few rays of sun. So on this hour of Science Friday, we'll be talking sunshine, sunscreens, and skin cancer.
The ultraviolet rays produced by the sun can damage the DNA of skin cells. What's more, toasting your skin often kills off some of the skin cells, forcing other cells to divide to try to replace their lost comrades. That combination of cell division and damage can, in the right combinations, mean cancer. Some people are predisposed to skin cancer - and some people put themselves at risk by spending too much time in the sun. We'll talk about risk factors, warning signs, and treatment options.
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D | Many dermatologists warn patients to watch for the ABCD's of melanoma -
Assymmetry, Borders, Color, and changes in Diameter.
(photos courtesy of the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health) |
We'll also talk about a recent decision by the FDA to change the labelling requirements for sunscreens. Under the new procedures, products can no longer claim to be sun "blocks" or to offer "all-day protection." Sunscreens also cannot advertise an SPF higher than 30 - anything over 30 is now just "30+." And the FDA published a list of the 16 active ingredients that working sunscreens can use to provide protection against the sun. What does all this mean for the consumer? We'll find out from the experts.
Plus, we'll take a look at an unusual disease - Eastern Equine Encephalitis - that's been spotted in some states in the Northeast. EEE is normally found mainly in birds, but occasionally is spread by mosquitoes to horses or humans. In humans, the disease can be serious - causing death in 30-50% of cases. We'll find out more.
Summer fun and summer risks... on this hour of Science Friday.
Guests:
John Anderson
Director
Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
New Haven, CT
Scott Saxman
Senior Investigator
Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program
National Cancer Institute
Bethesda, MD
Robert DeLap
Director
Office of Drug Evaluation
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research
Food and Drug Administration
Rockville, MD
Books/Articles Discussed:
Related Links:
March 6, 1998, Hour 2: Sunscreen and Skin Cancer
Cancer News on the Net
Electronic Textbook of Dermatology, Sunscreens
Sun Safety
- Mosquito Management Program
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This segment produced by:
Tom Clarke
Web producer:
Charles Bergquist
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