MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Five-day ozone UV radiation alert in Punta Arenas

Sun glasses and wide brim hast please

The Ozone Laboratory from the University of Magallanes in Punta Arenas, extreme south of Chile has been recording the highest ultra violet indexes of the season and warned this week about exposure to sun light.

Punta Arenas authorities have recommended the local population to take the normal precautions for this annual phenomenon basically limiting time exposure to the sun, long sleeves, wide brim hats, UV protection sunglasses and sun cream.

They also cautioned that even with cloudy skies UV rays are equally intense and dangerous since radiation equally gets through.

Claudio Casiccia, head of the Ozone Laboratory said that the high UV indexes can be explained for two main reasons: first as the summer season approaches, the ozone angle becomes more perpendicular, particularly from September until January. Secondly, for the next five days the Antarctic Ozone Hole will be marking its peak approach to the south of Chile (and Argentina).

The regional delegate from the Chilean Health Ministry Maria Isabel Banciella called on parents to pay special attention to children and teenagers whom must be protected from sun exposure and unexpected radiation.

“Sun exposure can expose the skin to parching and scalding, premature ageing or even conjunctivitis and cataracts to eyes among other pathologies”, said Banciella who added that “we strongly recommend the announced sun protection instructions from 10 in the morning to 6 in the afternoon”.