Experts have warned that prolonged exposure to sunlight can cause skin cancer, premature aging, burns and other issues. However, African Health Report (AHR)’s Ozioma Favour Ogbodo spoke to a cross section of traders who ply their trade exposed to the sun all day and discovered that many are unaware of the risks involved.
Nasiru, as he simply identified himself, sells water in sachets (pure water) on the streets of Abuja. He starts at sunrise daily and retires for the day when the sun sets. His biggest sales come during the peak of the heat generated by sunlight, when people take more water to quench their thirst. His prolonged exposure to sun rays is the least of his worries and when our reporter asked him if he was not worried that he was causing harm to his health, he vehemently dismissed it as baseless.
‘’I have been doing business under the sun for a very long time and I have not noticed anything wrong with my skin, I love working under the sun,’’ he told AHR. Many traders and workers who spend a lot of time under direct sun rays also share this view, despite proven risks to their health.
Sunlight and Skin Cancer
The National Library of Science explains that the skin plays a vital role in body functions as it acts as a barrier from harmful external agents and produces defence against ‘attacks’ such as viral or bacterial infections, heat or cold exposure, solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and exogenous chemicals to biological tissues.
Among these risk factors, skin damage caused by direct sun rays is an escalating problem in dermatology, along with an increased incidence of skin cancer, especially non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), reported worldwide.
A WHO report underscores the seriousness of this issue. According to the report, 300 000 NMSCs are due to chronic exposure to sunlight and a history of sunburn. According to data studies, an average of 18% of consultations in general practice are related to skin diseases. The global burden of skin disease study estimated that there was a slight female predominance (61% vs 48%) in the prevalence of skin disease during adolescence when harmful exposure to ultra violet (UV) rays frequently occurs. There are no geographical limitations and boundaries of skin disease, yet cutaneous infestations are more common in developing countries whereas skin malignancies are more prevalent in developed countries.
According to a recent WHO review, the human skin is continuously exposed to UVR, and the damaging effects can be divided into acute damages represented by sunburn, erythema, pain oedema and photo dermatoses, and more serious chronic damages represented by photoageing and premalignant skin lesions, for example, actinic keratosis and skin cancers: basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and malignant melanoma.
The National Library of Science report also notes that the outdoor environment has a high risk of sun exposure and are the most vulnerable to developing occupational skin cancer. It adds that the main populations related to the risk of developing NMSC are rural workers, general services, trade and construction. According to various research studies conducted by Hammond et al., observed professions at risk of skin cancer were builders, gardeners and road workers such as Nasiru.
According to report, 1 in 3 people succumbs to non-melanoma skin cancer, with nearly 19,000 deaths in 2019 attributed to outdoor sun exposure. The WHO emphasizes the need for increased protection for outdoor workers against solar ultraviolet radiation, citing a 65% male prevalence.
Debunking Denials
Contrary to Nasiru’s position, Mr. Ayegba Emmanuel, who is a UX/UI instructor, testifies to the harmful effect of prolonged exposure to direct sun rays.
‘’I noticed that when there is scorching sun and I happen to be outside, I feel my skin burning and immediately want to go inside. Exposure to the sun is dangerous and can cause cancer,’’ he told AHR.
AHR also spoke to Dr. Edozie Felix Odiah, JP, a Public Health Physician/Desmotologist, on the link between prolonged exposure to direct sunlight and skin cancer.
He explained, ‘’The most common cause of NMSC is ultra violet (UV) light. It is assumed to come from the sun and it is used in sunbeds. Non-melanoma cancer (NMC) is more common in older people, but younger people can also get it. One is also more likely to get it if you have a history of skin cancer in your family, or you have had skin cancer before, if you have pale skin that burns easily in the sun. You have a lower chance of getting non-melanoma skin cancer if you have black or brown skin, but you can still get it.
‘’Generally, staying safe under the sun is the best way to lower your chances of getting skin cancer. It is good to note at this point that the ultra violet rays are not just bad alone, but also provide vitamin D to the body to help us survive. There are three types of ultra violet radiation, UVA, UVB and UVC. UVA causes your skin to wrinkle, tan or burn. Too much exposure leads to skin cancer. UVB can damage the outermost layer of your skin. It can cause sun spots, tanning, sunburn and blistering, which can lead to skin cancer. AVC is absorbed by the earth’s atmosphere and the UV light you experience on earth is either UVA or UVB, not UVC. Now let me get specific on how the exposure to the sun can cause cancer.
‘’Too much UV radiation causes skin cancer. Our body needs some UV light for vitamin D, which is a vitamin you need to survive. When your skin has too much exposure to UV radiation, it damages your cells. Within your cells, you have DNA. DNA tells your cells how to form and function within your body. Too much UV radiation targets the DNA in your cells, which causes them to misunderstand their functions. As a result, your cells divide and replicate too frequently. Your cells then clump together to form tumors which can be cancerous.
‘’UV radiation from the sun is the primary cause of skin cancer, but UV light from tanning beds is just as harmful. Exposure to the sunlight during cold season puts one at the same risk of exposure during the heat season. Cumulative sun exposure causes basal cell and squamous cell skin cancer, while episodes of severe blistering sunburn, can cause melanoma later in life, which is skin cancer of uncontrolled growth of skin cells, in rapid, haphazard manner which causes tumors that is either benign or malignant.
How to stay safe in sunlight
Dr. Odiah advised that babies and children should be protected from intense sun rays because their skin is much more sensitive than the adult skin. Sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least 30 and at least 4- star UVA protection should be applied and reapplied regularly while working or having to stay outdoors for long periods at a time, but it is best to stay out of the sun during the hottest part of the day, say from 12 noon to 4pm. Keep your arms and legs covered, and wear a wide brimmed hat and sunglasses that provide protection against UV rays.
