Within the framework of the keenness of the Iraq Forum for Sustainable Development to spread environmental awareness in society by publishing some concepts and indicators that aim to raise the level of community awareness of environmental issues and consolidate a sense of individual and collective responsibility to preserve environmental resources, Therefore, we review the ultraviolet light index (UV index): It is a measure of the intensity of the sun’s ultraviolet rays, The greater the exposure to these rays, The greater the damage. Excessive exposure can destroy the DNA in cells, causing skin cancer.
This indicator predicts the amount of risk of exposure to these rays using a scale from 0 to 10
According to this measure:
0-2: low, Low risk of UV exposure for the average person
3-5: low risk of unprotected body parts exposed to sunlight, Can cause burns in as little as 20 people with fair skin
6-7: high, may cause burns, Protecting the skin and eyes from damage is essential in this case.
8-10: very high, high risk of sun exposure, May cause burns in as little as 10 minutes for people with fair skin.
+11 : excessive, the presence of a high risk of exposure to these rays, Can cause burns to the skin and eyes in minutes
Prevention methods:-
– Wear sunglasses
– The use of sunscreen is very important, If the intensity of the rays is 0-8, use SPE+30 sunscreen
– in case the intensity of the rays is +11, Sunscreen SPE+50 must be used
-Apply protective cream every two hours, especially after sweating or swimming
– Avoid shiny surfaces, Such as sand and water, which reflect ultraviolet rays and increase exposure to them
– Stay in the shade as much as possible, especially during the noon sun (12-2 pm)
-Wear wide-brimmed hats, Protective clothing