Kyiv Poll: Natural and Solar Radiation Are There Hazards?

Spring is coming soon, when the sun is stronger every day and nature comes to life under its rays. Solar radiation is one of the natural radiation types that is present on the Earth since the creation of the world. But besides the life-giving effect, the sun can do harm. If a person is exposed to ultraviolet rays for a long time, this can lead to skin burns or even to the development of melanoma.

Therefore, it is recommended to stay more in the shade and avoid exposure to direct sunlight, wear hats and sunglasses that completely protect your eyes, as well as use products with a sun protection factor (SPF) against UV 30 + during the period of the highest  activity of the sun in order to protect your skin.

Cosmic radiation from the Universe also affects the Earth in addition to the Sun. However, most cosmic particles are restrained by the magnetosphere of our planet. In addition to radioactivity from interplanetary space, natural radiation also includes radiation from the earth’s crust and the radioactive gas radon in the atmosphere. They make up the radiation background. 

We asked residents of the Svyatoshyn district in Kyiv how well they know about natural radiation in general and the hazard of solar radiation in particular.


Victor, 67 years old, retired miner

When is the sun most active?

The highest activity is in the end of spring and in the beginning of summer.

How can I protect myself?

Stay in the shade. Do not walk where the sun rays shine.

Is solar radiation hazardous?

So far, no one has suffered from it.

And what is natural radiation?

This is the one that is coming from the environment and the Earth.

What types of natural radiation do you know?

I can’t say anything about the types, I don’t know. 


Igor, 51 years old, barista

What do you know about solar radiation? Is it hazardous?

It is safe, but it is not desirable to sunbathe a lot.

What exactly is the harm of solar radiation?

It is harmful to the skin, for those who suffer from different dermatitis. That’s all I know about harm.

How to protect yourself against solar radiation?

Less sun exposure – more staying in the shade, less sunbathing.

What is natural radiation?

This is the background going from the earth, if there are stones such as granite, and from buildings, where construction materials are used.

What types of natural radiation can you name?

Except those I already mentioned, I do not know any more.


Andriy, 30 years old, athlete

Please tell me, what do you know about solar radiation?

What exactly is the question?

Is it safe or not? Do we need to protect against it?

You need to protect yourself. We have the Earth’s magnetic field that protects against solar radiation.

Is it harmful for people?

Sure. Radiation is hazardous for people in principle, this is solar radiation.

How can you protect yourself against it?

I do not know.

What is natural radiation?

Perhaps the one that is in nature — radiation from natural resources.

What types of natural radiation do you know besides the one generated by minerals?

I do not know.


Sergiy, 45 years old, tradesman

Please, tell me what do you know about solar radiation?

I heard about it regularly.

When is the sun most active?

In summer at 12 PM, when the sun is at its zenith, as they say.

How to protect yourself against solar radiation and is it necessary?

Do not stay in the sun – and that’s all, probably.

And what is the harm of solar radiation?

Burns.

What is natural radiation?

Uranium is also natural, so it’s hard to say what natural radiation is. I do not know.

Can you name other types of natural radiation?

No, nothing more comes to mind except for uranium. The sun – yes. What else radiation sources do we have? Granite, marble. This is near deposits, again. 


Oleksandr, 38 years old, engaged in the installation of electrical equipment

Please, tell me what do you know about solar radiation?

I know that it exists.

When is the sun most active?

From 12 PM to about 2 or 3 PM.

And what time of year?

In summer, in cloudless weather, when the sun is higher.

How to protect yourself against solar radiation and is it necessary?

Apparently, it is necessary. And how to protect myself – maybe with a cream, in the shadow.

And what is the harm of solar radiation?

It is harmful to the skin.

What can happen when a person is exposed to it?

I don’t know, I am not a doctor.

What is natural radiation?

This is the background that comes from the earth: granite, marble, deposits. There are many types of elements that the earth contains.

What types of natural radiation can you name?

Solar one, and those that were named before.


Oksana, 40 years old, housewife

What is natural radiation? What types of natural radiation do you know?

I know solar radiation.

What do you know about solar radiation?

There is SPF [Sun Protection Factor, ed.] and other factors, I don’t remember exactly how they are called. And there are spectra that penetrate directly through our layer, some of them are more or less safe, and some are completely hazardous. Therefore, sun-protection cosmetics should be used.  

When is the sun most active?

From 9 to 10 AM you can walk outside, and from 10 AM to 2 PM, I believe that the sun is most active.

Does it depend on the time of the year?

Sure. I think that due to the acclimatization that is happening now, you can actively use SP factors starting in April. Although in winter, in sunny weather, I use it, and my child too.

How to protect yourself against solar radiation? You already said, my means of cosmetics.

I protect myself with creams containing SP factors. Moreover, in summer, the protection for a child should be at least SPF 50, and I use 30. If you go to the sea, then SPF should be also 50. My husband and my second child are very white-skinned – they need SPF 50 and above, otherwise they will burn.

And what exactly is the harm of solar radiation?

As far as I know, firstly, this is skin photoaging. It increases with age. Secondly, the appearance of most of wrinkles (this regards women). Skin pigmentation is a skin cancer that is directly caused by melanomas that appear due to too much sun exposure.


Vasyl, 27 years old, seller

What is natural radiation?

There is a lot of radiation. There is radiation from the sun such as ultraviolet rays.

What do you know about solar radiation?

Ultraviolet is harmful to the human body. There are ozone holes, and it turns out that ultraviolet accumulates and burns out… temperature rises, climate changes.

When is the sun most active?

I don’t know that.

How to protect yourself against solar radiation?

Wear hats. I don’t know any more ways.

What is the harm of solar radiation to humans?

If I’m not mistaken, the body accumulates radionuclides. It is harmful to health — cancer cells are formed.


Oksana, 41 years old, teacher

What is natural radiation, and what types of natural radiation do you know?

No, I don’t know anything about natural radiation.

Well, what do you know about solar radiation?

If in excess, then it is harmful. But I don’t know for sure.

When do you think the sun is most active?

In the summer from 12 to 4 PM.

Do you somehow protect yourself against solar radiation?

Yes, we try to stay less in the sun at this time, in the summer, if possible, when we are going to rest.

Do you perhaps use any creams, cover your head?

Yes, we cover our heads, we surely use creams, children use special creams for children, and we buy special creams for adults.

What is the harm of solar radiation?

It’s harmful for the skin … something harmful is produced in the body, I won’t say for sure.


Anastasia, 34 years old, economist

What is natural radiation?

Radiation within some more or less safe (or hazardous) dose, such as solar radiation.

What types of natural radiation do you know?

I don’t know any types. I know that radiation is in the form of alpha-, beta- and gamma- rays with different dose rate.

What is natural radiation and what types of natural radiation do you know?

I have only heard of it.

When is the sun most active?

Probably in the spring.

Should you protect yourself against solar radiation?

I think, yes, definitely.

How hazardous is it in your opinion?

Perhaps it causes certain changes in the structure of tissues, organs, skin.


Iryna, 32 years old, librarian

What is natural radiation?

I think these are releases of harmful substances into the environment.

What types of natural radiation do you know?

It’s hard to answer. I do not know.

What do you know about solar radiation?

Solar radiation is the release of harmful substances that pass through the atmosphere through ozone holes.

When is the sun most active in your opinion?

I think, from 12 to 4 PM.

How to protect yourself against solar radiation?

I think you need to apply protective creams to the skin.

Why is solar radiation exactly harmful to the body?

It can cause skin cancer. It may have an adverse effect on eyes.


Volodymyr, 22 years old, real estate sales manager

What is natural radiation?

This is the evaporation of harmful minerals from natural soil, which harm human health.

What types of natural radiation do you know?

I don’t know any.

Do you know anything about solar radiation?

Yes, I heard about it. This is a very large effect of the sun on the human body.

When is the sun most active in your opinion?

At noon in the summer.

How to protect yourself against solar radiation?

Stay more indoors, use creams and wear protective clothing.