UN groups launch app to track ultraviolet radiation levels

By Peter Kenny

GENEVA (AA) - Four UN organizations on Tuesday launched a new mobile phone app that provides localized information on ultraviolet (UV) radiation levels, seen as a timely entry amid sizzling temperatures worldwide.

SunSmart Global UV has been developed by the World Health Organization, World Meteorological Organization (WMO), United Nations Environment Program, and the International Labor Organization.

“It provides five-day UV and weather forecasts at searchable locations,” WHO spokesperson Carla Drysdale told journalists at a press conference.

“The app highlights time slots when sun protection is required to help people worldwide know when to use sun protection, to reduce the global burden of skin cancer and UV-related eye damage.”

She said the app is free of charge and available on both the Apple App and Google Play stores.

“It provides personalized options so that users can take actions to protect prolonged, excessive UV exposure, a major cause of skin cancer and other UV-related diseases,” said Drysdale.

The app allows the inclusion of national and local data streams and is currently available in Chinese, Dutch, English, French, Russian and Spanish languages.

“Globally, it is estimated that over 1.5 million cases of skin cancer (melanoma and non-melanoma combined) were diagnosed worldwide in 2020,” said Drysdale.

“During the same period, more than 120,000 people across the world lost their lives to this highly preventable disease.”

Dr. Maria Neira, the WHO director of environment, climate change and health, said evidence shows that overexposure to UV is the primary cause of skin cancer.

She said one of the main factors contributing to these cancers is excess UV radiation from thinning of the earth’s stratospheric ozone layer from the release of certain manufactured chemicals.

Clare Nullis, a WMO spokesperson, said her organization aims to keep people safe and bring the benefits of science to society.

“This app gives location-specific details. So now I’m looking at it and can see that in Geneva today, from 9:30 am 5:20 pm, some protection is recommended. UV forecast is now six out of a scale of 11, reaching a maximum of eight today,” she said.