Possible Health Effects of Increased Exposure to Ultraviolet Radiation

Among the possible effects of stratospheric ozone depletion, perhaps the most important consequences are the health implications for human beings. Because a reduction in stratospheric ozone would increase the amount of ultraviolet radiation reaching the earth's surface, human diseases that might be influenced by increased exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV) are important to consider. In this Note, the authors discuss the characteristics of several types of skin cancer and other diseases believed to be related to sunlight. Their primary goal is to educate the reader regarding the natural history and consequences of UV-related diseases, by translating into layman's language information available in the scientific literature. The information in this document lays the groundwork for further research on the economic costs of these diseases in estimating the impact of stratospheric ozone depletion.