The incidence of skin cancer in relation to climate change in South Africa

dc.contributor.authorWright, Caradee Yael
dc.contributor.authorNorval, Mary
dc.contributor.authorKapwata, Thandi
dc.contributor.authorDu Preez, David Jean
dc.contributor.authorWernecke, Bianca
dc.contributor.authorTod, Bianca M.
dc.contributor.authorVisser, Willem I.
dc.date.accessioned2020-07-10T15:03:53Z
dc.date.available2020-07-10T15:03:53Z
dc.date.issued2019-10-22
dc.description.abstractClimate change is associated with shifts in global weather patterns, especially an increase in ambient temperature, and is deemed a formidable threat to human health. Skin cancer, a non-communicable disease, has been underexplored in relation to a changing climate. Exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is the major environmental risk factor for skin cancer. South Africa is situated in the mid-latitudes and experiences relatively high levels of sun exposure with summertime UV Index values greater than 10. The incidence of skin cancer in the population group with fair skin is considered high, with cost implications relating to diagnosis and treatment. Here, the relationship between skin cancer and several environmental factors likely to be a ected by climate change in South Africa are discussed including airborne pollutants, solar UVR, ambient temperature and rainfall. Recommended strategies for personal sun protection, such as shade, clothing, sunglasses and sunscreen, may change as human behaviour adapts to a warming climate. Further research and data are required to assess any future impact of climate change on the incidence of skin cancer in South Africa.en_ZA
dc.description.departmentGeography, Geoinformatics and Meteorologyen_ZA
dc.description.librarianam2020en_ZA
dc.description.urihttp://www.mdpi.com/journal/atmosphereen_ZA
dc.identifier.citationWright, C.Y., Norval, M., Kapwata, T. et al. 2019, 'The incidence of skin cancer in relation to climate change in South Africa', Atmosphere, vol. 10, art. 634, pp. 1-11.en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn2073-4433 (online)
dc.identifier.other10.3390/atmos10100634
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/75140
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherMDPIen_ZA
dc.rights© 2019 by the authors. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license.en_ZA
dc.subjectAir pollutionen_ZA
dc.subjectEnvironmental healthen_ZA
dc.subjectRainfallen_ZA
dc.subjectSun exposureen_ZA
dc.subjectTemperatureen_ZA
dc.subjectClimate changeen_ZA
dc.subjectSkin canceren_ZA
dc.subjectUltraviolet radiation (UVR)en_ZA
dc.subjectSouth Africa (SA)en_ZA
dc.titleThe incidence of skin cancer in relation to climate change in South Africaen_ZA
dc.typeArticleen_ZA

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