Ultraviolet Radiation

2024 Author: Rachel Wainwright | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 07:39

Ultraviolet radiation from the sun is the most important condition for life on Earth, for all biological species without exception, including humans. Even those living beings who can do without light all their lives, anyway, one way or another, even indirectly through food, but use its beneficial effect. Nevertheless, lately we have to hear more and more that being in the sun for a long time is harmful, that it provokes skin cancer and aging. At the other end of the scale - the sun-eaters, or prano-eaters, who suddenly appeared, who claim that you can eat only the sun's rays. Let's try to understand this issue.

Under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, many metabolic processes occur in the body, in particular, the synthesis of vitamin D. Without this vitamin or with an insufficient amount of it, calcium metabolism in the body is disturbed, this is especially noticeable in children, and it is also very dangerous for them, since rickets develops. Despite the fact that the skeleton of an adult is already formed, and rickets does not threaten him, with a lack of ultraviolet radiation, calcium exchange is also disrupted. The activity of this important element is not only that it is part of the bone tissue.

Calcium in the body ensures blood clotting, contributes to the proper functioning of muscle tissue, is part of hormones and enzymes. All these processes, which are essential for life support, are disrupted by a lack of ultraviolet radiation, and the higher nervous activity for which it is necessary also suffers. Everyone remembers that depressions intensify in the autumn-winter period.

Now that we have figured out the dangers of lack of ultraviolet light, consider the dangers of its excess. If there is more ultraviolet radiation than the body can "absorb", it begins to have a damaging effect. First of all, the skin suffers, everyone knows the summer sunburn. Eyes also suffer - with an acute burn from the sun's rays, electrophthalmia occurs, familiar to climbers, and a chronic excess of ultraviolet radiation leads to the formation of cataracts.

Experiencing excessive tension and the nervous system, which is expressed in the appearance of increased excitability, nervousness, and rapid fatigue. The mutating effect of ultraviolet radiation, which contributes to the development of skin cancer, cannot be disregarded. Oncologists know that under the influence of excess sun, the growth of malignant tumors is accelerated.

Thus, it is impossible to answer unequivocally whether ultraviolet radiation is good or evil for the human body. Like many other things that surround us in life, this is a blessing that, when abused, becomes its opposite.

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