To begin lets first discuss what ultraviolet light / radiation is. "Ultraviolet" refers to the spectrum of light that is beyond violet. When we say that the light is beyond violet, we simply mean that is is of a higher frequency than violet light. UV radiation was fist discovered in 1801 by a German physicist Johann Wilhelm Ritter. He made this discovery while observing rays of invisible light beyond the violet end of the visible spectrum and noticed that these rays darkened silver chloride-soaked paper quicker than the violet rays themselves.
In regards to the human impact that UV exposure has it can be both positive and negative. When most people think of UV exposure, they think of the harmful radiation emitted from the sun that causes sunburn and the potential for skin cancer. Over exposure to UV radiation significantly increases your risk factor for developing both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. According to the
EPA, each year there are more diagnosed cases of skin cancer than breast, prostate, lung, and colon combined. In fact, nearly one in five Americans will develop skin cancer at some point in their lifetime. Even scarier, nearly one American dies from skin cancer every hour. Melanoma (pictured below) is the most serious form of all the skin cancers and is now the most common form in young adults between the ages of 15-29.
In addition to skin cancer, overexposure to UV radiation can also lead to the formation of
cataracts and other complications with the eyes. A cataract is the clouding of the lens in the eye that, if left untreated, could lead to blindness over time. Less common complications include pterygium, a form of tissue growth that can block vision, skin cancer around the eyes, and degeneration of the macula.
Now I did mention that exposure to UV light radiation can be both harmful and positive depending on your exposure. Although the risks associated with overexposure appear to be weigh in much more significantly than the positives,
some exposure is beneficial. Small amounts of UV are beneficial in the production of Vitamin D. It can also be used to treat several diseases, including rickets, psoriasis, eczema, and jaundice. Of course this needs to take place under medical supervision, but as you can see, one needs to weigh the benefits of treatment vs the risks of exposure and consider the positive end of the spectrum.
