U.S. Unveils New Global Ultraviolet Index

WASHINGTON, DC, May 27, 2004 (ENS) - The U.S. government announced Wednesday its commitment to the new Global Ultraviolet (UV) Index, which replaces the existing UV reporting methods in the United States.

Unveiled by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Weather Service, the Global UV Index is a set of guidelines developed to help individuals understand which precautions to take to protect themselves from different levels of UV radiation.

"With summer around the corner and sun drenched beaches beckoning, it is easy to forget that the sunlight that feels so good can be harmful," said EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt. "Our new UV index is a quick and easy way for people to know when it is important to use sunscreen and to avoid too much sun."

These guidelines will standardize reporting of surface UV radiation levels in the United States with reporting in other nations - the Government of Canada also adopted the guidelines Wednesday.

The UV Index is a measure of the amount of skin damaging UV radiation reaching the earth's surface.

Currently, forecasts issued by the National Weather Service provide information about UV intensity during the solar noon hour - 1:00 pm daylight saving time - of the following day.

The National Weather Service and EPA will now provide daily UV forecasts for 58 major metropolitan areas, as well as forecasts by zip code.

Overexposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun is a preventable contributor to serious health effects, particularly skin cancer. Incidence of malignant melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, has more than doubled in the United States in the last 30 years.

"Each year more than one million people are diagnosed with skin cancer in the United States, making it the most common form of cancer in the country," said National Weather Service Director David Johnson. "Clearly, there is a need for more guidance with UV index information, which we are providing."

The guidelines were developed by the World Health Organization, the United Nations Environment Program and other international organizations.