A woman shields herself from the sun’s glare with an umbrella in downtown Yangon on February 27, 2015. PHOTO/COCONUTS MEDIA
Slap on the suntan lotion, don a hat or grab an umbrella. Levels of ultraviolet (UV) radiation could reach extreme ends of the spectrum today.
Tun Lwin, Myanmar’s former director-general of the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, told state newspaper The Global New Light of Myanmar that the UV index, an international standard used to measure levels of radiation, could reach 12.6 in Yangon on Thursday. Several other areas, including Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw, could see dangerous highs too.
For radiation levels starting at 8 to 11 and higher, the World Health Organization recommends seeking shade and going indoors during midday hours. If you have to venture out, the WHO says suntan lotion, a shirt and a hat are musts.
The newspaper said that over the last two summers, Yangon has seen similarly high radiation readings.
UV radiation, which is normal at lower ends of the spectrum, can cause all sorts of illnesses at higher doses. Short-term effects result most commonly in sunburn, while skin cancer can occur as a consequence of lengthy exposure. The levels can depend on a host of factors, including the ozone layer and reflections from the ground, sea and snow.
