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. 1974 Sep;71(9):3363–3366. doi: 10.1073/pnas.71.9.3363

The Wavelengths in Sunlight Effective in Producing Skin Cancer: A Theoretical Analysis

R B Setlow 1,*
PMCID: PMC433772  PMID: 4530308

Abstract

DNA is taken as the target for skin cancer induced by ultraviolet light, and the known data on the sensitivity of DNA as a function of wavelength are summarized. The sun's spectrum at the surface of the earth and the DNA action spectrum are used to calculate the carcinogenic effectiveness as a function of wavelength. The most effective wavelengths at 30°N latitude are <305 nm, and a 1% change in atmospheric ozone results in a 2% change in the effective dose of ultraviolet light. Since both the basic biological and physical data are reasonably precise, the major requirement for a quantitative evaluation of the dose response relation for ultraviolet-induced skin cancer in man is better epidemiological data to compare with data from animal models.

Keywords: DNA damage, action spectra, ozone

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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