The scare over holes appearing in the protective ozone shield over the Northern Hemisphere has again alerted Australians to the dangers they face from the sun. Ozone depletion over the South Pole has affected Australia for years, catapulting the country to the top of the world statistics for skin cancer. Each year the sun`s hazardous ultraviolet rays slip through the thinning ozone layer and cause 140,000 cases of skin cancer-nearly 1,000 of them fatal-in a population of only 17 million.
This has led to a reappraisal of the Australian way of life and a feeling that a change of lifestyle is the only way to master the situation.
The bronzed beach boy with the surfboard tucked under his arm should no longer be considerd the personification of Australian youth, environmentalists and people in the medical profession say.
Instead, they`d like to see people going about well-protected against the sun, particularly between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., when it is at its most intense. Despite the apparent dangers, many Australians appear to take the threat of cancer less seriously than they should.
Scientists and doctors whose studies of skin cancer have attracted worldwide attention often complain of the indifference shown by their fellow Australians to the issue.
Beaches are regularly full of people frying themselves under cloudless blue skies, hoping to attain a golden tan.
A ”skin cancer consciousness week” is held every year shortly before the start of summer, when the hole in the ozone layer above the South Pole expands northwards towards Australia.
Radio, television and newspaper spots draw attention to cancer prevention and to the importance of regular health checks designed to detect the disease in its early stages.
Sun lotion or gel with a sun protection factor of at least 15 is recommended, as are wide-brimmed hats and bathing suits with long arms and legs.
The government issues alerts when especially high levels of ultraviolet rays are expected. People also are urged to wear sunglasses treated to absorb ultraviolet radiation when outdoors in bright sunlight.
Schoolchildren have been urged to eat their lunches in the shade of trees. Consideration is also being given to moving back the traditional lunch break until late afternoon when the sun`s rays are less powerful. Many schools have already started issuing pupils with ”legionnaires` caps,” which have a length of cloth on them that covers the back of the neck.
Ozone depletion is caused by chlorofluorocarbons, which are commonly used in aerosol sprays, refrigeration and air-conditioning.
As well as causing skin cancer, prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light can lead to cataracts, weaken the body`s immune system and accelerate aging.
Australians, many of whom are descended from fair-skinned British and Irish immigrants, have particularly sensitive skins when it comes to being in the sun.
Most communities have set up telephone counseling services so people can get to know about the risks of skin cancer as well as methods of treatment and preventive methods.
But experts agree that as long as a majority of Australians refuse to accept that the sun is dangerous to their health, very little will change.
