The effects of the sun far beyond the airplane windows

Applying sunscreen before boarding a plane? A recommendation that's getting people talking...

In a HuffPost article, Dr. Elizabeth Jones debunks the sunburn rumor. According to her, window glass is an excellent barrier against the majority of UVB rays, the ones responsible for sunburn, not to be confused with UVA rays, which accelerate skin aging and can cause skin cancer. While previously, airplane windows could let through up to 50% of these UVA rays, newer window models are said to completely block them, according to Agence Science-Presse. This information has never been confirmed to date.

Melanoma Warning

Harmful rays can indeed reach the skin on board an airplane, so applying sunscreen is not a recommendation to be taken lightly, as some creams may contain antioxidants to effectively combat UVA rays. In 2015, a meta-analysis published in the Journal of the American Medical Association highlighted a surprising fact: it appears that pilots and other crew members are at greater risk of melanoma than the rest of the population. The reason? Greater exposure to UV rays at altitude, but also to cosmic radiation, which aircraft walls and windows do not block, reports the Agence Science Presse.

A Risky Environment

The authors of the meta-analysis, like other researchers before them, explain that lifestyle habits, visits to numerous sunny destinations, or exposure to more polluted atmospheres, could also be responsible for this higher incidence.

(MH with Raphaël Liset - Source : Agence Science-Presse - Illustration : ©Unsplash)