Should We Block The Sun?

Scientists fear a future where vulnerable populations will be forced to spend daylight hours Inside!

Many people in many governments are afraid of the consequences of higher UV radiation especially on population numbers and ways it might change the ability of some populations to move freely in the daytime. By trying to alter our atmosphere instead of divesting from fossil fuel usage the following could occur: The color of the sky could change. The chemical composition of the ozone layer and oceans may be permanently altered. Photosynthesis, which depends on sunlight, may slow down causing mass starvation, possibly irreversibly harming biodiversity and agriculture. And global weather patterns could change unpredictably to even more extreme norms such as complete loss of seasons as we know them.

UV radiation is generally affected by changes in the stratospheric ozone and global climate change. Decreased stratospheric ozone allows more UVB (the higher-frequency, more harmful type of UV) to reach the Earth's surface. Changes to the ozone layer starting in the latter part of the 20th century has led to an increase in the proportion of UV radiation reaching the earth's surface. Ultraviolet radiation not only affects humans, but wildlife as well. Excessive UV-B inhibits the growth processes of almost all green plants. There is concern that ozone depletion may lead to a loss of plant species and reduce global food supply. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation at Earth's surface has increased over much of the globe since 1959.It's not that the sun is stronger, but rather the ozone layer is thinner meaning more UV rays are coming through. The ozone layer sits about 9-18 miles above the Earth's surface.

In terms of the health of human beings sunburn is a sign of short-term overexposure, while premature aging and skin cancer are side effects of prolonged UV exposure. UV exposure increases the risk of potentially blinding eye diseases, if eye protection is not used. Overexposure to UV radiation can lead to serious health issues, including cancer.UVB rays, the main cause of sunburn, are the strongest in the summer. However, UVB rays can burn and damage your skin year-round, especially at high altitudes and on reflective surfaces such as snow or ice.

Currently, between 2 and 3 million non-melanoma skin cancers and 132,000 melanoma skin cancers occur globally each year. One in every three cancers diagnosed is skin cancer and, according to Skin Cancer Foundation Statistics, one in every five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime.An estimated 7,990 people will die of melanoma in 2023. Of those, 5,420 will be men and 2,570 will be women. The vast majority of melanomas are caused by the sun. In fact, one UK study found that about 86 percent of melanomas can be attributed to exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.In 2023, 1,958,310 new cancer cases and 609,820 cancer deaths are projected to occur in the United States.The rates of melanoma have been rising rapidly over the past few decades, but this has varied by age. In adults, rates continue to increase by about 2% per year from 2015 to 2022.

The majority of sun exposure occurs before age 18 and skin cancer can take 20 years or more to develop. Whether your sunbathing days are behind you or you still spend time pursuing the perfect tan, you should be concerned about skin cancer, especially if you have fair or freckled skin.Vitamins C, E and A, zinc, selenium, beta carotene (carotenoids), omega-3 fatty acids, lycopene and polyphenols are among the antioxidants many dermatologists recommend including in your diet to help prevent skin cancer. Skin cancer is more common in people with white or fair skin. This is because they have less of the protective pigment called Eumelanin. People with black skin are less likely to get skin cancer.

Deficiency of Folate (B9) can lead to colorectal, pancreatic, breast and prostate cancer. Inadequate B6 and B12 in the human body can result in lung cancer.To protect your skin from high UV, when possible, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants and skirts, which can provide protection from UV rays. If wearing this type of clothing isn't practical, try to wear a T-shirt or a beach cover-up. Clothes made from tightly woven fabric offer the best protection.In Europe there have been discussions and bills put forward to force people to stay indoors during peak times of high UV radiation and in the US a bill was put forth in congress to make tanning illegal for people under 19 years of age.

Rates of skin cancer in the US are rising, even though most cases are preventable because they’re related to sun exposure and indoor tanning. A study in the International Journal of Cancer found that 91% of all melanomas in the US were linked with ultraviolet (UV) radiation—mostly due to sun exposure. That rate was even higher among whites, at 94%. These rates underscore the need for broader use or enforcement of preventive, sun protection measures across states, the study’s authors, are researchers from the American Cancer Society (ACS) and Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Medicine in Boston. They studied the total US population, but at the state level they focused their results on non-Hispanic whites because they’re the group most likely to develop melanoma. Blacks are the least likely. Hawaii had the highest proportion of melanoma due to UV radiation—97% of all cases. Alaska and the District of Columbia had the lowest, with 88% of all cases.

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy is coordinating a five-year research plan to study ways of modifying the amount of sunlight that reaches the Earth in order to temporarily temper the effects of global warming. There are several kinds of sunlight-reflection technology being considered, including stratospheric aerosol injection, marine cloud brightening and cirrus cloud thinning. The report will be dedicated specifically to a form of geoengineering known as solar radiation management. This is a technique that essentially involves spraying fine aerosols into the atmosphere to reflect sunlight away from the Earth. The idea is that, once it’s reflected, there’ll be less heat and temperatures will go down many scientist believe such an action would have the opposite effect and cause irreversible harm to the planet. Stratospheric aerosol injection involves spraying an aerosol like sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere, and because it has the potential to affect the entire globe, often gets the most attention. When sulfur dioxide combines with water and air, it forms sulfuric acid, which is the main component of acid rain. Acid rain causes deforestation and acidified waterways to the detriment of aquatic life.

Human exposure to sulfur dioxide causes irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat. Symptoms include excessive runny nose and nasal mucus, choking, cough, and reflex bronchoconstriction, the effect is similar to that of people with asthma, the muscles often tighten causing the airways to become narrower, which blocks the flow of air and makes it hard to breathe. A 1984 Congressional report estimated that acid rain caused the premature death of about 50,000 people in the United States and Canada.

Arguments of moral hazard that would have cost the oil industry money have handicapped research efforts, but the idea is getting more urgent attention in the worsening climate crisis. Even though embracing green sustainable paradigms would solve the problem with less death and environmental destruction it was opposed by Congress to avoid loss of revenue from the petroleum, nuclear and gas industries that would be replaced in as little as 5 years if Solar, wind and green battery tech were subsidized the same as oil industries!While acid rain can be incredibly detrimental for the environment and will kill many plants and animals over a long enough exposure, it won't directly hurt or kill you right away unless you have underlying medical issues.

It has been shown that acid rain has detrimental effects on trees, freshwaters and soils, destroys insects and aquatic life-forms, causes paint to peel, corrosion of steel structures such as bridges, and weathering of stone buildings and sculptures, as well as impacts on human health.. Inhaling acid rain can lead to respiratory illnesses like asthma or chronic bronchitis, or make these conditions worse for people who already have them. These particles can also reduce heart function, leading to heart attacks and death.