Scienceblogtwo

90% of people's lives are often spent indoors, either at work, home, or when traveling. Residents of these enclosed spaces are exposed to a wide range of chemicals from numerous sources, including indoor infiltration of outdoor pollutants, gaseous emissions from furnishings and building materials, and byproducts of our own activities like cooking and cleaning. Additionally, through our breath and skin, we are powerful mobile emission sources of chemicals that enter indoor air. However, how do the chemicals return? This occurs to some extent naturally on its own, when it rains, and through chemical oxidation in the atmosphere outside. In great part, hydroxyl (OH) radicals are in charge of this chemical cleanup. These highly reactive chemicals, also known as the detergents of the atmosphere, are largely created when sunlight reacts with ozone and water vapor to make these very reactive molecules. Direct sunlight and rain have obviously much less of an impact on the air within. Since ...

Skin cancer that can be fatal, melanoma, affects people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds. The risk factor most closely associated with developing melanoma is exposure to ultraviolet, or UV, radiation from the sun. In actuality, melanoma risk has been shown to be inversely correlated with sunburn risk. Sunscreen's ability to block UV rays and hence lower the incidence of sunburns may ultimately lower the risk of acquiring melanoma. So, it makes sense to advocate for sunscreen as a melanoma preventive approach in public health campaigns. For those with lighter skin tones, such as those of European ancestry, this may be true, but not for those with darker skin tones, such as those of African or Asian ancestry. The existing scientific evidence does not support the public health messages about sunscreen recommendations for people with dark skin that are being spread by many doctors and public health organizations. The issue is made worse by media messaging that repeatedly warns that...