My Health Mart - Your Health Care Center

WHO: Sun Exposure Kills 60,000 Worldwide Each Year

Source: Yahoo Author: American Cancer Society Published date: 2007-01-17

Around 60,000 people worldwide die each year from skin cancer caused by too much sun exposure, according to a new estimate by the World Health Organization (WHO). The agency released a report Thursday detailing 9 diseases and conditions caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and estimating their impact on global health.

Melanoma is the deadliest disease caused by the sun, and the primary cause of UV-related disease in the Americas, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Brunei, Japan and Singapore. The WHO says 50%-90% of all melanomas are caused by too much sun exposure.

Excess UV exposure also causes most cases of non-melanoma skin cancers, the agency said. It estimates that 50%-90% of basal cell carcinomas and 50%-70% of squamous cell carcinomas are due to too much sun. The sun also causes a rare type of eye cancer called squamous cell carcinoma of the cornea or conjunctiva.

Using data from the year 2000, the agency calculated that these deadly skin cancers killed between 41,000 and 71,000 people, with the most likely figure being around 60,000.

Slip, Slop, Slap

[back to top] [Print This Article] [Close]

Top Stories

Curry May Help Prevent Colon

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Chemicals found in onions and curry may help prev

Mapping the Back Helps Patie

THURSDAY, July 20 (HealthDay News) -- Simply asking patients to map their moles on a dr

Anthelios OTC Sunscreen Appr

MONDAY, July 24 (HealthDay News) -- Anthelios SX, an over-the-counter sunscreen that co

New Sunscreen Promises More

TUESDAY, July 25 (HealthDay News) -- A new sunscreen just approved by the U.S. Food and

What Does That SPF in Sunscr

FRIDAY, Aug. 18 (HealthDay News) -- Sunscreens have long been an ally in the battle aga

Gene Therapy Shows Promise A

Researchers from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) say they have found a way to turn

New Sunscreen Promises More

TUESDAY, July 25 (HealthDay News) -- A new sunscreen just approved by the U.S. Food and

What Does That SPF in Sunscr

FRIDAY, Aug. 18 (HealthDay News) -- Sunscreens have long been an ally in the battle aga

Gene Therapy Shows Promise A

Researchers from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) say they have found a way to turn

Anthelios OTC Sunscreen Appr

MONDAY, July 24 (HealthDay News) -- Anthelios SX, an over-the-counter sunscreen that co

Cancer Researchers Announce

THURSDAY, Aug. 31 (HealthDay News) -- U.S. scientists are pointing to the full, 18-mont

Mapping the Back Helps Patie

THURSDAY, July 20 (HealthDay News) -- Simply asking patients to map their moles on a dr

Rub On a Tan and Prevent Ski

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 20 (HealthDay News) -- In the not-too-distant future, you may be able

Guidelines Could Reduce Skin

MONDAY, July 17 (HealthDay News) -- Not only is melanoma over-diagnosed, experts say, b

Note: This site does not provide medical or any other health care or fitness advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The site and its services, including the information above, are for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for professional medical or health advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health professional before starting any new treatment, making any changes to existing treatment, or altering in any way your current exercise or diet regimen. Do not delay seeking or disregard medical advice based on information on this site. Medical information changes rapidly and while MyHealth-Mart and its content providers make efforts to update the content on the site, some information may be out of date. No health information on MyHealth-Mart, including information about herbal therapies and other dietary supplements, is regulated or evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and therefore the information should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease without the supervision of a medical doctor.