slarsen
Indiana
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I’ve been researching Ultra-violet light exposure after having nearly a dozen pre-cancerous growths burned off on the backs of my hands and the top of my head. Wish I had known some of this years ago, and I hope you can benefit . . .
While windshield glass is quite effective in blocking the UV ranges that are most damaging (because of the plastic layer sandwiched between two layers of glass) the side and rear windows range from very ineffective (clear glass) to maybe as much as 2/3 effective if the glass is heavily tinted. I’m talking factory tinting, here.
If you opt to have the glass tinted aftermarket, it is possible to get very effective plastic coatings added to windows. Too dark tinting added aftermarket can get you in trouble with the authorities, who are concerned about visibility after dark, but some coatings are very effective without severe tinting. Some coatings can be as high as 99% effective at blocking UV.
I bought a UV instrument, which I just received and started using today. It seems my 2012 F250 has, as expected, very effective UV protection through the windshield and something at least half effective through the side glass. The moon roof appears to be quite effective as well. But I note that this time of the year, the sun doesn’t have a great deal of power, still being so low in the southern sky. I’ll be interested in testing, say in June when the sun is the strongest.
Why should you be concerned? UV exposure is “cumulative” according to my Dermatologist, who recommends always covering exposed skin with sunscreen if you are going outside, any time of the year. The SPF should be at least 45. I hadn’t thought about how UV impacted traveling in a car or truck, until I started researching this, as I wondered where those spots came from on my hands. I worked inside jobs my whole working career. But think of the many hours spent with the hands on the steering wheel in the sun! I should mention that all six spots on my hands are on my LEFT hand.
Those pre-cancerous growths, some quite small and barely noticeable, have roughly a 5% chance, each, at becoming cancerous if ignored. And the older we get, the more exposure we’ve accumulated and the lesser our body’s ability to fight off cancer. So like I said, this is something I hope you take seriously and I hope this will be helpful.
Scott
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ScottG
Bothell Wa.
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Joined: 02/25/2005
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All good info. My DW just had laser resurfacing performed on her face to get rid of 5 very bad cancerous spots fixed along with facial reconstruction of her nose. All from running around without any protection. Insurance won't pay for the laser procedure so we coughed up $7k.
The sad part is all this could have been prevented!
Scott, Grace and Wesly
2003 Dodge 3500 4x4, 6 speed Cummins (lightly bombed),
2004 Forest River 25RKS many, many mods.
H0NDA eu2000i
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jimtoo
Now, Ultra Perfect
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Joined: 10/23/2004
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I can assure you it is not fun to have sun damage repaired. I have had numerous places frozen and removed and 4 minor surgeries for removal and one good one for transplant or facial reconstruction of the nose. If we had only known this 50 years ago.
This is from a about 10 years ago. I still go every 6 months for check ups.
Wear Protection..... Sun Screen....don't learn the heard way.
Jim
Happy Camping
Drive Safe
Jim & Bette
Kerrville Sweetheart X Rally
George West Storyfest
04 GMC 3500, CC,Dually,Duramax,Allison
CB Radio, MaxBrake, Turboliner, Ride Rites
08 Bighorn by Heartland, 3055RL, Trailair Pinbox, Equaflex.
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John&Joey
Some Location
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Joined: 05/20/2007
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Thanks guys.
Living at the lake in the summer then snowbirding is putting us in the sun a lot. It's so easy to skip the SPF 45 or tossing on a hat before going out. Hearing and "seeing" the effects hopefully will put a stop to that bad habit.
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Golden_HVAC
Fulltime, CA, USA
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Joined: 08/19/2003
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Lucky for me, I had a neighbor that ran a company called "Tint Pro" in Orange County California. They knew the difference between low quality blue tints sold at auto parts stores and high quality tints like he installed in cars and houses.
The higher quality tints look a little more silver in color, and he had some that are only about 15% light reduction (at the extreme) while being 99% UV reduction. I think I picked about 35% light reduction for the rear windows of my Honda CRV, while the van I had at the time had factory tinted windows. All of the tints he sold reduced UV transmission by 99% or more, while light reduction was something like 15% to 95%, you can pick several options in between.
I don't like tinting the driver's windows, as it impairs my ability to see at night. I agree that the windshield has some tinting to it. By using a solar isolation meter, I can tell. With the meter outside the car, the reading was close to 1,080 watts per square meter at 4,500' elevation, and inside the windshield was under 850. So at least 15% to 20% reduction of solar capacity is blocked by the windshield tinting and glass.
For solar heating systems, low lead glass is used to lessen the heat loss through the glass into the heating device. When viewed from the side, low lead glass appears clear, even when looking at 3" or wider cross section of the glass. If you have ever looked at the side of normal glass, it appears green, due to it not being low lead glass. Glass used in microscope slides would be low lead glass, as looking at the side view it appears clear.
A little UV light is good for the skin though. Just in vain we try to get to much sunlight to make the skin look a little tan, and many youth use tanning salons to get much darker skin color than is natural, with results of shriveled up skin in 20 or more years down the road.
I work on rooftops on a daily basis, and do use 15 SPF sunblock in the summer time around my neck and other exposed skin, sometimes on my arms, yet I also let them tan most of the time, and have found no adverse effects of the sunlight exposure other than mild sunburns in the beginning of summer around my neck.
Good luck with your cancer and I hope it all resolves itself. If you want know what the Nobel Prize winning scientist found out about cancer and how to kill it, google Dr. Warburg
Fred.
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RRinNFla
Northeast Florida
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Just to throw in another dismal thought, UV exposure is also a leading cause of cataracts.
Richard
2007 Keystone Cougar 291RLS
2008 Ford F250 V10 (Gas), EC, SB, 4X4
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slarsen
Indiana
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The subject of UV damage and protection is a big one, and many books have been written on it.
We are all supposed to know not to go outside without wearing sunscreen and a hat. What I am mostly wanting to communicate to the RV community is the amount of sun damage that can be received sitting inside our cars, trucks and motor homes. I did not know that, as I imagine most people don't, either.
So much protection can be obtained for such a relatively small cost. If you aren't willing to invest in added sunscreen to your side windows, at least be aware that sunscreen should be worn while driving.
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restlesswind
Fulltime
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Joined: 10/13/2007
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I work on rooftops on a daily basis, and do use 15 SPF sunblock in the summer time around my neck and other exposed skin, sometimes on my arms, yet I also let them tan most of the time, and have found no adverse effects of the sunlight exposure other than mild sunburns in the beginning of summer around my neck.
Good luck with your cancer and I hope it all resolves itself. If you want know what the Nobel Prize winning scientist found out about cancer and how to kill it, google Dr. Warburg
Fred.
Re Dr Warburg.Not the latest information on the subject.
Hichhiker DA
04.5 Dodge TD SRW
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beemerphile1
I'm only 57, I'm not yet a
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Joined: 04/20/2007
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slarsen wrote:
...my Dermatologist, who recommends always covering exposed skin with sunscreen if you are going outside, any time of the year. The SPF should be at least 45...
You can also find many studies that recommend regular sun exposure. Your body needs vitamin D. Vitamin D is produced by your skin when exposed to the sun. I believe in moderation. Some exposure is good but not excessive exposure. Saying SPF 45 anytime you are outside is Chicken Little thinking. Remember him? The sky is failing!
Here is some excellent sun screen info from the Environmental Working Group. They are a non-profit consumer advocacy group and they regularly do lab testing on consumer products.
http://breakingnews.ewg.org/2011sunscreen/
Tim
If you aren't paranoid, you aren't paying attention! 
2006 Weekend Warrior FK1900 towed by 1998 Ford E150 4.6L = 8 MPG
2009 Aliner Sport towed by 2009 Pontiac Vibe 1.8L = 22 MPG
1996 BMW R1100GS
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Shot-N-Az
Va
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Joined: 06/22/2007
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Little did I understand that clothing and hats provide little protection. I have worn a hat or cap for most of my adult life. I have also had minor surgery on my old bald head and I'm not finished with it appears.
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