In an effort to raise awareness about the harmful effects of the sun’s ultraviolet rays, the Global Solar UV Index (UVI) was developed in 1997 by the World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the International Commission for Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), and the German Federal Office for Radiation Protection. The index provided a simple measure of UV radiation levels at the Earth’s surface, which indicated the potential for skin damage. And although many countries were using the index, according to WHO, many didn’t fully understand the meanings of the symbols, color codes and protection messages. To help with this situation, Intersun, WHO’s Global UV Project, recently introduced “Global Solar UV Index — A Practical Guide,” as an educational tool and to create standardization of the index across the world. UVI values are grouped into exposure categories of low, moderate, high, very high and extreme with a corresponding color code and a scale of 1 to 11+. There are also a set of icons to indicate the appropriate sun protective behavior, such as wearing a hat, staying in a shaded area or staying indoors and out of the sun altogether. According to WHO, having a universal system in place is important in encouraging people to practice sun-safe behavior. Since the 1970s, there’s been a significant increase in skin cancer incidences. The organization hopes that this global index will reduce the global burden of disease resulting from exposure to UV radiation. The goals of Intersun are to promote research activities to fill the gaps in knowledge about UV radiation; to quantify the health risks of UV radiation exposure, to facilitate public and occupational programs to reduce UV-related health risks; to develop practical resources for sun protection in schools; and to promote the UVI as an educational tool for sun protection.
UV Index Goes Global
In an effort to raise awareness about the harmful effects of the sun’s ultraviolet rays, the Global Solar UV Index (UVI) was developed in 1997 by the World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the International Commission for Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), and the German Federal Office for Radiation Protection. The index provided a simple measure of UV radiation levels at the Earth’s surface, which indicated the potential for skin damage. And although many countries were using the index, according to WHO, many didn’t fully understand the meanings of the symbols, color codes and protection messages. To help with this situation, Intersun, WHO’s Global UV Project, recently introduced “Global Solar UV Index — A Practical Guide,” as an educational tool and to create standardization of the index across the world. UVI values are grouped into exposure categories of low, moderate, high, very high and extreme with a corresponding color code and a scale of 1 to 11+. There are also a set of icons to indicate the appropriate sun protective behavior, such as wearing a hat, staying in a shaded area or staying indoors and out of the sun altogether. According to WHO, having a universal system in place is important in encouraging people to practice sun-safe behavior. Since the 1970s, there’s been a significant increase in skin cancer incidences. The organization hopes that this global index will reduce the global burden of disease resulting from exposure to UV radiation. The goals of Intersun are to promote research activities to fill the gaps in knowledge about UV radiation; to quantify the health risks of UV radiation exposure, to facilitate public and occupational programs to reduce UV-related health risks; to develop practical resources for sun protection in schools; and to promote the UVI as an educational tool for sun protection.
In an effort to raise awareness about the harmful effects of the sun’s ultraviolet rays, the Global Solar UV Index (UVI) was developed in 1997 by the World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the International Commission for Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), and the German Federal Office for Radiation Protection. The index provided a simple measure of UV radiation levels at the Earth’s surface, which indicated the potential for skin damage. And although many countries were using the index, according to WHO, many didn’t fully understand the meanings of the symbols, color codes and protection messages. To help with this situation, Intersun, WHO’s Global UV Project, recently introduced “Global Solar UV Index — A Practical Guide,” as an educational tool and to create standardization of the index across the world. UVI values are grouped into exposure categories of low, moderate, high, very high and extreme with a corresponding color code and a scale of 1 to 11+. There are also a set of icons to indicate the appropriate sun protective behavior, such as wearing a hat, staying in a shaded area or staying indoors and out of the sun altogether. According to WHO, having a universal system in place is important in encouraging people to practice sun-safe behavior. Since the 1970s, there’s been a significant increase in skin cancer incidences. The organization hopes that this global index will reduce the global burden of disease resulting from exposure to UV radiation. The goals of Intersun are to promote research activities to fill the gaps in knowledge about UV radiation; to quantify the health risks of UV radiation exposure, to facilitate public and occupational programs to reduce UV-related health risks; to develop practical resources for sun protection in schools; and to promote the UVI as an educational tool for sun protection.
