Is Sunbathing Good?

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Is Sunbathing Good For You?

  Tanushri Gukhool 10a

  Mr Terry

Contents page

Introduction……………………………………………………………............pg2

Ultraviolet radiation……………………………………………………………pg2

The sun can be good for you…………………………………………….…..pg2

The sun can be bad for you………………………………………………….pg2

Sun beds……………………………………………………………………….pg3

How the Skin Tans……………………………………………………………pg3

UV and your health……………………………………………………………pg4

UV sessions…………………………………………………………………...pg4

Risks…………………………………………………………………………....pg5

Who is most at risk?..………………………………………….……………..pg6

Health benefits………………………………………………………………...pg6

Tanning fakes……………………………………………………………….…pg7

Tanning myths…………………………………………………………………pg7

Conclusion……………………………………………………………………..pg8

Bibliography……………………………………………………………………pg9

Pg1

Introduction…

In this case study I will be analysing the different theories about sunbathing and staying in the sun for long periods of time. I will be looking at both for and against arguments and backing these points up with scientific evidence. I will also be analysing the reliability of the sources, as well as including my own personal opinions.

Ultraviolet radiation…

      UV light is radiation that can’t be seen and is beyond the violet end of the visible spectrum making UV an ionizing radiation. Ionizing radiation is high in energy and can also damage living cells, causing skin cancers and diseases.

The sun…

      The sun is the source of energy that all life on earth depends on, without the sun the earth would be unable to survive. The sun radiates electro-magnetic vibrations with different wave lengths. The wave lengths of heat rays are longer than the wave lengths for visible light. Ultraviolet radiation, which tans our skin, has even shorter wave lengths than these.

The sun can be good for you because:

There are lots of reasons why the sun can be good for you, here are some examples:

  • Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is our main source of vitamin D, important for your bones, muscles and immune system

  • Vitamin D may also have the ability to combat the development and spread of cancerous tumours

  • Sunlight stimulates the pineal gland in the brain. This produces certain chemicals called 'tryptamines' which improve our mood

The sun can be bad for you because…

     There are also many reasons why the sun can be bad for you, e.g:

  • Exposure to solar and artificial UV radiation is widely recognized as a leading and preventable cause of skin cancer.

  • Exposure to high levels of sunlight, makes it four times more likely for you to develop cataracts in your eyes.

  • Sunburn can change the distribution and function of disease-fighting white blood cells and damage our DNA.

(BBC Hot Topics – Sunshine)

     This information is very reliable as it is written by scientists to aware the public about both the risks and benefits of sun bathing and the sun. They cover both points of the argument fairly.

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Pg2

Sun beds…

      Sun beds are becoming more and more popular. More than 10% of the population in northern Europe use sun beds to get a tan, with more than 24% of British teenagers aged 16-24, have used a sun bed. Britain has children as young as 13 with memberships to tanning salon.” States a thesite.org, on health and well-being.

      Sun bed contains fluorescent tubes which mainly emit UVA and some UVB rays which both damage DNA in skin cells. Researchers say:

“However, in recent years, lamps of sun beds have been ...

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This is a well researched report that covers a good range of aspects. 1. The report is well structured and the use of a contents page is a nice touch. 2. There has been a lot of research that has gone into this report that needs to be referenced. 3. The tables and images need to have figure numbers. 4. The conclusion is well written. ****