A recent TikTok video is stirring up a debate about whether passengers should be reaching for sunscreen while soaring in the skies. The video, posted by former Australian flight attendant Kayla, is sounding the alarm on the hidden perils of UV rays that often go unnoticed when you’re cruising above the clouds.
“UV rays up there are off the charts. I always make sure to slap on sunscreen before and during the flight,” she spills in the video.
The video has triggered a mix of reactions, with many netizens having their eyes opened to this revelation, while others take a more laid-back approach in their comments.
“OMG, I never even thought about this!,” exclaims one netizen.
So, is this sunscreen advice the real deal? Do cabin crew or passengers, especially those snagging the window seat, need to be armed with sunscreen?
According to Stuff.co.nz, Wednesday (20/12/2023), Liley, an atmospheric scientist at the NIWA Lauder Research Station in Central Otago, has been delving into ultraviolet (UV) radiation for over 30 years. Collaborating with Air New Zealand’s Medical Officers, Dr. Nicola Emslie, they conducted measurements of UV spectra right in the cockpit. This research kicked off after a 2015 report hinted that melanoma rates among flight crew could be 50% higher than the general population.
However, the findings couldn’t conclusively point fingers at UV exposure during flights or whether it was an occupational hazard on the ground.
Liley emphasizes the importance of recognizing various UV forms, particularly UVA and UVB.
“Ultraviolet (UV) light from 400 nm to 315 nm is dubbed UVA, from 315 nm to 280 nm is UVB, and from 280 nm to 100 nm is UVC,” Liley breaks it down.
Their research involved a UV spectrometer and electronic UV dosimeter badges on several Air New Zealand flights, measuring UV radiation through different cockpit windows.
Results showed that UV transmission through the laminated cockpit windshield wasn’t detected. The lamination effectively thwarted UVA and UVB, but some side windows emitted UVA above 340 nm.
While the study didn’t dive into UV levels inside the aircraft cabin, Liley mentions that regular window glass blocks about 95% of erythemal UV (sunlight), and aircraft windows can likely match that.
“Similar to the Earth’s surface, the most intense erythemal UV occurs when the sun is directly overhead, and sunlight has a shorter path through the ozone layer,” he explains.
He also dishes out a reminder that slathering on sunscreen isn’t just for flights; it’s a good call when you touch down in sunny destinations too.