The detrimental effects of excess personal solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure include sunburn, immunosuppression and skin cancer. In South Africa, individuals with minimum natural protection from melanin, including fair-skinned individuals and African albinos, and people spending extended unprotected periods outdoors are at risk of sunburn, a risk factor for skin cancer. Sunburn becomes increasingly likely during the high solar UV radiation hours around midday, and previous studies have shown that children are exposed to potentially high, sunburn-causing solar UV radiation levels while at school.
Reference:
Wright, CY, Coetzee, G, and Ncongwane, K. 2011. Ambient solar UV radiation and seasonal trends in potential sunburn risk among schoolchildren in South Africa. South African Journal of Child Health, Vol. 5(2), pp 33-38
Wright, C., Coetzee, G., & Ncongwane, K. (2011). Ambient solar UV radiation and seasonal trends in potential sunburn risk among schoolchildren in South Africa. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/5110
Wright, CY, G Coetzee, and K Ncongwane "Ambient solar UV radiation and seasonal trends in potential sunburn risk among schoolchildren in South Africa." (2011) http://hdl.handle.net/10204/5110
Wright C, Coetzee G, Ncongwane K. Ambient solar UV radiation and seasonal trends in potential sunburn risk among schoolchildren in South Africa. 2011; http://hdl.handle.net/10204/5110.