Everyone loves summer in Australia because it coincides with the Christmas and New Year holiday break. In January and February in many suburbs almost half the shops shut and busy suburban shopping centres become like ghost towns. Beachside towns burst at the seams as a flood of holiday maker’s pour in to stake their claim for a spot on the beach, to live out their dream of an ideal summer vacation.
But there’s another side to the fun and games of an Aussie summer. On the mildly uncomfortable end of the spectrum its stuffy rooms, sweaty nights and expensive air conditioning bills. But on the dark side is the reality that exposure to the intense Aussie sun can lead to skin cancer.
Did you realise that according to the Cancer Council of Australia, two in every three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the time they are 70[1]? So as we head into another hot happy holiday period, it’s an ideal time to consider the benefits of protecting you and your family’s skin from the effects of the harmful UV radiation, which causes 95% of skin cancers[2].
WHAT CAUSES SKIN CANCER?
There are two types of UV rays – UVA and UVB. UVA rays cause skin damage and ageing, and UVB rays have long been known to cause sunburn and contribute to cancer, but recent studies indicate both UVA and UVB exposure can be carcinogenic[3].
Brad Maguire, the owner of Precision Window Tinting comments, “Covering up and using sunscreen should be second nature to anyone venturing out in the Australian sun, but most people fail to consider how the sun impacts them when they’re sitting inside their home or driving a vehicle? Harmful UV rays penetrate untreated glass, and in doing so, cause all sorts of damage to the skin. But Window film provides protection against UVA, while permitting natural light through the glass.”
Doctor Jennifer Becker, national chair of the Canadian Dermatology Association’s Sun Awareness Program, said, “It’s been known for some time that…windows in general don’t offer enough protection from the sun’s rays.” [4] In fact, the average window may only block up to 25% UV radiation.
Solar control window film can be applied to an existing window to block as much as 99% of both UVA and UVB radiation, 80% total solar energy and 90% glare. Australia’s independent WERS For Film program allows you to choose a film with an independently proven energy rating.
With the recent UN announcement 2016 will very likely be the hottest year on record , the timely Sun Wise Windows initiative organised by the Window Film Association of Australia and New Zealand (WFAANZ) aims to help residents combat unwanted heat gain and UV exposure this summer.
Sun Wise Windows offers window film as a simple and inexpensive solution that will help arrest these problems at their source, the windows.
Ally Cronan, WFAANZ Public Relation and Marketing Director, said, “Plain glass can block some UVB, yet it transmits the majority of harmful UVA, which we now know is also a health hazard. Sun Wise Windows lets people know they don’t need expensive new windows for protection, the same results can be achieved with retrofit window film.”
Ally adds, “Part of your action plan to attack skin cancer head-on this year should be a review of your windows in your car and home. Are your windows shaded, screened, or treated? If not, then we urge you to consider contacting a quality window tinter to learn more about window film.”
When it comes to tinting your car windows, please note there are State laws setting limits on the visible light transmittance (VLT), which basically measures the darkness of the tint. Always choose a WFAANZ member for advice on the best legal film that will address all your needs.
[1] Cancer Council, www.cancercouncil.com.au/1in3cancers/lifestyle-choices-and-cancer/uv-exposure-and-cancer/#WvLt2ZpZPOx3cDOw.99
[2] Cancer Council, www.cancercouncil.com.au/1in3cancers/lifestyle-choices-and-cancer/uv-exposure-and-cancer/#WvLt2ZpZPOx3cDOw.99
[3] Journal of Investigative Dermatology, October 2011, reported a study which determined that “…UVA1 may be more carcinogenic than has previously been thought[3].”
[4] Mark Hacking, The Globe and Mail, Side windows offer surprisingly little protection against UV rays, published Thursday, 29 October, 2015, http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/news/industry-news/side-windows-offer-surprisingly-little-protection-against-uv-rays/article27017864/
