Sun kills 60,000 a year, says WHO

[devilgrrl]

Sun kills 60,000 a year, says WHO

Sun damage can lead to deadly skin cancer
As many as 60,000 people a year die from too much sun, warns the World Health Organization.

The bulk of the deaths are from skin cancers caused by excess exposure to the sun's harmful rays, ultraviolet radiation, says WHO.

UVR also causes sunburn, triggers cold sores and ages the skin, according to its report, the first to outline the global health burden of sun exposure.

Simple measures, such as covering up when in the sun, could cut the deaths.

Death toll

Dr Maria Neira, Director for Public Health and the Environment at WHO, said: "We all need some sun, but too much sun can be dangerous - and even deadly.

"Fortunately, diseases from UV such as malignant melanomas, other skin cancers and cataracts are almost entirely preventable through simple protective measures."

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/5219540.stm


=================

Well in that case... shouldn't the sun be banned or restricted???? :silly::sarcasm:

[RobertSeattle]

1. Dumb headline. EXPOSURE to Sun kills 60,000/year

[devilgrrl]

2. That was the headline provided by the BBC...

:shrug:

[RobertSeattle]

5. Oh I understand that

I was referring to the BBC headline, not yours.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

7. I don't understand the problem...

isn't that kind of like saying "...exposure to roadside bomb kills two troops in Ramadi?"

[RobertSeattle]

12. It just seem unnecessarily vague to me

The sun, sitting out there at 93 million miles didn't kill anybody. The sun's radiation, when exposed to human skin, does.

I just prefer headlines to mean meaningful.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

13. The sun's radiation, for all practical purposes...

is what the sun is.

[RobertSeattle]

14. OK...

http://www.nineplanets.org/sol.html

I'm just here, sitting on planet #3, obeying the laws of physics.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

15. So when you read "sun kills 60,000..."

you were confused because you didn't know if they meant the suns radiation, or because the sun's large mass crushed a bunch of people when it landed on top of them?

[napi21]

3. IF that's really true, why don't professional golfers die young?

I know it ages the skin prematurely. I was inroduced to Ben Hogan once. After we walked away, I asked my boss how old Ben was. He was about 55 at the time. My God, he looked like 95!

Then there's the roofers, painters, etc...everyone who constanatly works outside in the hot sun.

[RobertSeattle]

6. I hear ya

I went to High School in Florida, but now live the Northwest and put on sun screen whenever I'm going to be out in the sun for an extended period. At by High School renunion I look ten years younger than my contemporaries... Oh darn... :-)

[lapfog_1]

4. well, according to the rapture ready crowd...

Global warming is not man made, but part of "God's wrath". you see, god is making the sun hotter and hotter... eventually, it will get to be sooooo hot that people walking around will simply burst into flame. I'm series. :banghead:

So, maybe the sun IS killing all of these un-believers!!! :sarcasm:

[hfojvt]

What? That's an act of war!!!1!1!

We should nuke the sun! That would show those arrogant solar SOBs.
Nuke the sun! Nuke the sun!

[Fleshdancer]

9. Star Wars!

Damn you Sun. You're either with us or against us! :rofl:

[underpants]

8. ATTACK!

Actually Bush does have a plan to go to the sun. He figured it all out, we can go at night.

:bounce:

[gatorboy]

10. Upon hearing this, President Bush orders 120,000 US troops into the sun

Bush replied, "And will keep sending troops directly into the sun until this menace is stopped!"

[WilliamPitt]

11. For centuries, man has yearned to destroy the sun.

[eppur_se_muova]

17. One of my favorite throwaway lines from "The Simpsons". nt

[madmusic]

16. There ought to be a law.

Maybe Icarus can draft one up.

[eppur_se_muova]

18. WMD!! We must invade!

Bu**sh** plans brilliant strategy -- US will use element of surprise, attack at night.