Raising awareness on ultraviolet radiation

Small amounts of ultraviolet (UV) radiation are essential to produce vitamin D in people, yet overexposure to sunlight may result in acute and chronic health effects on the skin, eye and immune system.

The rise in the incidence of skin cancers over the past decades is strongly related to increasingly popular outdoor activities and recreational exposure. Experts believe that 4 out of 5 cases of skin cancer could be prevented through protecting against overexposure to sunlight.

Through the INTERSUN programme, WHO and partners are promoting and evaluating research on the health effects of UV radiation, and developing guidelines and recommendations focused on:

• protecting and educating children on the harmful effects of overexposure to the sun,
• educating the public about the harmful health effects of artificial sunbeds,
• using the UV index tool to raise awareness about the health risks of UV exposure and protective measures,
• protecting outdoor workers who are exposed to UV radiation.