Environmental Health Center

EnvironMinute Health Scripts

When you're at the beach, you're exposed to intense sunlight. But there's a place where your skin can burn even faster. Learn when you're at high risk on today's EnvironMinute. [:10]

You know you should protect your skin when you're at the beach. It's even more important for a vacation in the mountains. The higher the altitude, the greater the risk of sunburn. That's according to a new study by the American Academy of Dermatology. Researchers discovered that unprotected skin burns in only six minutes at 11,000 feet. It takes eight minutes more for a sunburn at sea level. The study found that ultra-violet B rays grow more intense with altitude -- as much as ten percent for every thousand feet. So if you head to the mountains for outdoor fun, take along a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. [:36]

The EnvironMinute is produced in cooperation with the National Safety Council and made possible by the Teresa and H. John Heinz III Foundation. [:10]

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