Increase in sunburns and photosensitivity disorders at the edge of the Antarctic ozone hole, southern Chile, 1986-2000.

BACKGROUND

Over the past 15 years Punta Arenas, Chile, a medium-sized city located on the extreme southern tip of South America, has repeatedly been exposed to acute, sudden episodes of highly increased levels of ultraviolet B (UVB) 280-320 nm radiation because of the passage of the spring Antarctic "Ozone Hole" overhead, or nearby.

OBJECTIVE

Our purpose was to observe the relationship between episodes of ozone depletion, increased UVB radiation, and sunburns and photosensitivity disorders in Punta Arenas, Chile, during spring.

METHODS

Incidence of photosensitivity disorders and sunburns was registered by dermatologists during each of the past 15 springs. Local data of sudden, severe ozone depletions (<250 Dobson units) and the corresponding increase of UVB radiation were reviewed.

RESULTS

Patients with sunburn increased significantly during the austral spring of 1999 (P <.01). This was especially noticeable (29/31 cases) on weekends with ozone depletion, and increased UVB radiation (P <.01) occurred on the Sundays Oct 31, Nov 21, and Dec 5, 1999. The incidence of photosensitivity disorders, although statistically not significant, increased 51% over the past 7 years.

CONCLUSIONS

An acute impact on human health (sunburn) occurred because of abrupt ozone depletion and the accompanying increase in UVB during the mid and late austral spring of 1999. Most sunburns (93.5%) occurred on weekends. Ozone levels as well as seasonal and recreational factors played a mayor role in the increase in sunburns. The increase in radiation at 300 nm, the most carcinogenic wavelength, on days under the Antarctic ozone hole is a matter of special concern.