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ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT: MYTHS AND FACTS

In a new science fad, unwise practices are urging an irrational phobia, about ultraviolet (UV) light. The resulting sickness and misbehaviour will mystify, yet

enrich physicians, psychiatrists, dentists and criminal specialists as well as pharmaceutical drug companies. In too many scientific and medical fields, for a lot

of researchers the truth is defined only in relationship to the next grant, peer pressure and the fight to further an entrenched view. This essentially political

process goes on despite any—in this case very strong evidence to the contrary. Much "science" research is known to be fraudulent. Such a flow of funded

research almost exclusively in one direction is characteristic of potentially dangerous science fads. Almost all "scientists" are out to prove something so as to

continue their careers; to them, finding the truth is only secondary. UV intensity is now forecast in population centres daily. The EPA suggests when outdoors

we should "protect ourselves against ultraviolet light whenever we can see our shadow", many physicians give patients the same terrible advice as warning. If

man were a machine, a doctor could repair or replace one part without worrying about the rest of the contraption. Man is no machine, but more like a web or

hologram. Every organ and every part affects all the other parts; in fact, cells in every part communicate with all the other parts.4

As a result of the EPA's kind of advice, the use of sunglasses is epidemic; we hide behind stylish darkened car windows, we slather our skin with sunscreen

for even brief sun exposure. People who engage in these practices are ruining their disposition5 and health.

The phobia arose after investigators anaesthetised animals, propped their eyes open and shined intense UV light into them; this damaging their retinas.

Excessive exposure to one kind of ultraviolet (short-wave, germicidal UVC) can damage tissue. But the EPA makes the ridiculous leap from that truth to the

conclusion that we should avoid all UV (A, B&C). UV C is not increasingly present in sunlight; a purported thinning of the protective ozone layer has been

debunked; yet UVC IS found in tanning salons.

In fact, the trace amounts of UV radiation in natural daylight are required for physical and mental health, civilised behaviour, muscle strength, energy and

learning. Sunlight, in moderation, improves immunity and stimulates our metabolism increases our intelligence while decreasing food craving.

Ozone Hole Danger Disproved

The following passages and references are from Richard Hobday's book, The Healing

Sun: Sunlight and Health in the 21st Century.

"There have been no increases in skin cancer, eye diseases, immune system disorders or environmental damage which can be attributed to an increase in

ultraviolet radiation. The largest South American city close to the Antarctic ozone hole is Punta Arenas in southern Chile. Despite reports to the contrary,

there have been no ozone-related health problems at Punta Arenas, and measurements of ultraviolet radiation show that any increases are too small to have

any appreciable effect.

"A paper published in 1998 by the European Science and Environmental Forum challenges the consensus view on ozone depletion, and argues that

predictions made by the scientific establishment and the media have been ill-founded. If this is the case, and the hole in the ozone layer is, after all, a

temporary thinning of the upper atmosphere in the early spring, then there is no reason to fear that people will develop skin cancer because ultraviolet

radiation has become more dangerous.

"There is certainly no evidence to support the widely held view that the increase in malignant melanoma in recent years is in some way linked to ozone

depletion. The trend predates the issue of ozone loss, which may have been going on for some time before it was noticed. A paper published in the British

Journal of Cancer shows that from 1957 to 1984 the incidence of malignant melanoma in Norway increased by 350 per cent for men and 440 per cent for

women. During the same period there was no change in ozone levels over Norway, nor any significant change in annual exposure to ultraviolet radiation

from the Sun. Scare stories, such as the one about sheep in Chile developing cataracts because of increased ultraviolet radiation, are not supported in the

scientific literature. The sheep in question were later found to have had an infectious disease, and sunlight was not implicated.

"What is clear, however, is that there is a great deal of ill-informed comment on the subject of ozone depletion and, for that matter, sunbathing. Should

depletion of the ozone layer ever become a cause for real concern, then some people might develop cancer who might not have, had there been no

depletion, but until this happens there is much more to be gained from investigating the real causes of skin cancer and encouraging safe sunbathing than in

being preoccupied with the state of the Earth's upper atmosphere and blaming everything on the Sun. Diet and lifestyle play more significant part in the

genesis of cancer than is currently recognised. Similarly senile cataract can be said to be increasing because of ozone depletion"

Note; even low exposure to UVB significantly increases cataracts risk, with a diet rich in junk unsaturated fats and oxidised products.

A sensible diet, supplemented with vitamins C & E, does not develop cataracts from even lengthy sun exposure.

PHOTOBIOLOGY

From a high-school hobby of time-lapse photography, the late John N. Ott, DSc Hon (active into his tenth decade), founded the new science of photobiology.

From Dr Ott's last book, Light, Radiation and You: How to Stay Healthy (1990):

"Mankind adapted to the full range of the solar spectrum, and artificial distortions of that spectrum—malillumination, a condition analogous to malnutrition—

may have biologic effects." In a published 1991interview, he noted:

"There are neurochemical channels from the retina to the pineal and pituitary glands, the master glands of the whole endocrine system that controls the

production and release of hormones. This regulates your body chemistry and its growth, all organs of your body, including your brain, and how they function."

Q: Where are the controlled, scientific tests supporting Dr Ott's statements?

A; Who makes money promoting sunlight? Think about it!

• Ultraviolet Deprivation Health Effects

Consider the health effects of ultraviolet deprivation.

• Indoor Lighting and Melanoma

Malignant melanoma is often alarmingly but wrongly blamed on sun exposure. The dangerous, skin cancer is ultimately fatal if not corrected.

A US Navy study found most melanoma in people working indoors all the time. Those who worked both outdoors and indoors some of the

time had the lowest incidence. Most melanomas appeared on parts of the body seldom exposed to sunlight. The inference is both very high

and low exposures to UV light can be harmful but moderate exposure is healthful

• Sunscreens and Melanoma

Sunscreens block out only UVA and UVB, which we need trace amounts of, but not the potentially dangerous, germicidal UVC. No

commercial sunscreens have been proved safe. Their chemicals penetrate the skin into the circulation and add to the burden of toxins to be

detoxified. Commercial sunscreens increase the risk of melanoma by causing mutations when the cells' chromosomes interact with the

chemicals and the light. Natural, and commercial sunscreen, inhibit needed uptake of vitamin D3 from UVB, increasing risk osteoporosis.

Moreover, Lita Lee, PhD, notes: "Mounting evidence indicates many sunscreens contain carcinogens & the rise of sunscreen usage parallels

the increase of skin cancers. The only recommend sunscreen is coconut oil, although, you can‘t slather it & bake all day. Adding a little

iodine to coconut oil for the first week of summer adds protection; but continued iodine use will inhibit thyroid function. The only safe

(non-carcinogenic) sunscreen would contain titanium dioxide."

• Fluorescent Lighting and Melanoma Lengthy exposure to (trace UV) full-spectrum sunlight, partially "immunises" men and women against later

development of melanoma.

A study published in the prestigious medical journal Lancet and a Russian study found fluorescent light rather than sunlight promotes melanoma,

proportionately to the time of exposure. In the Lancet study, nearly 900 women, who worked indoors under fluorescent lighting had 2.l times higher

melanoma risk (95% confidence interval, CI, 1.32 to 3.32) than others.

Among women exposed for 20 years or more, the relative risk (RR) was 2.6 (95% CI, 1.2 to 5.9).

Relative risks in women who had been most heavily exposed to sunlight were lower, by playing outdoors as children and sunbathing as adults.

In a smaller sample of men, the RR for fluorescent lights with 10 or more years' exposure was 4.4; for those with the least time in the sun while

children, the RR was 7.3.

Two hours of evening bright light can sometimes cure weight gain, depression, carbohydrate craving, social withdrawal, fatigue and irritability.

Although these exposures took place in the 60s & 70s, before the thinning of the ozone layer, yet as earlier mentioned, UV penetration of the atmosphere

has not increased. This explodes the claim that sun exposure causes malignant melanoma. In the 19 years since publication of Beral's researched article in

the Lancet, no one has refuted the finding. No doubt many could make more money if the information went away.

Why do Emissions from fluorescent lights extend into potentially carcinogenic ranges.

Dr Ott found that the cathodes located at the ends of the light tubes emit X-rays and other electromagnetic pollution. Plants living under the central

portion of long fluorescent light tubes grow normally; but when placed close to the ends of tubes, their growth is stunted and abnormal.

Dr Ott also found that the light from fluorescent tubes, as well as TV sets and computer terminals, causes red blood cells to clump together after

prolonged exposure, reducing alertness, promoting tiredness and increased risk of heart problems. When traces of UV are added to the light tubes and

their ends shielded with lead, plants and animals grow and function under them normally. Dr. Ott says wrapping fluorescent light tubes ends with lead

tape is as important as full spectrum light.

• Ultraviolet Deprivation Health Effects

Certain effects of ultraviolet deprivation are equally remarkable and tie together with health benefits.

• FS Light & Childhood Health

In 1973, radiation-shielded full spectrum (FS) light was installed in five classrooms in Sarasota, Florida. Several extremely hyperactive, learningdisabled

children calmed down completely and learned to read. Absenteeism dropped. The children in four standard-lit rooms continued to

misbehave (tracked by motion-detecting cameras); with learning disabilities and absenteeism unabated. After a year, students in the full-spectrum

classrooms had one-third less tooth decay than those under standard lighting. Laboratory mice, exposed in waking hours to FS light, had zero tooth

decay.

Similar findings were reported from California, Washington state and Alberta, Canada.

A classroom comparison in Vermont found full-spectrum lighting strengthened immunity.

Why did tooth decay diminish after to fullspectrum light exposure with trace UV?

Why did immunity improve under FS lights?

According to Dr Ott: "Every nutritional substance and medicine has a specific wavelength absorption. If those wavelengths are missing in artificial

light sources exposures, then the nutritional & other substance benefits will not be utilised." UV functions as a nutrient and co-factor in the utilisation

of other nutrients.

So the full-spectrum lights correct children's vitamin D3 deficiency, dissimilarly to the toxic addition of vitamin D to milk, (now considered a prohormone).

This light induced calcium absorption lowers osteoporosis and hip fractures risk later in life.

Recent research found nearly half people of all age groups with RDA-strength supplements deficient in vitamin D & with deficient calcium in food,

the body extracts calcium from bone.

FS light strengthens immunity by helping protect against multiple sclerosis, heart attacks and possibly even conversion of HIV to AIDS. Dr Ott found

that light from fluorescent tubes, TV sets and computer terminals, caused red blood cells to clump together after prolonged exposure.

• FS Light vs Cancers

Cancers hate full-spectrum light. A tumour-susceptible strain of mice doubled their lifespan under full-spectrum lighting, and rats exposed to fullspectrum

light significantly decreased tumour development. Terminal cancer patients under Dr Ott, got well in a rocking chair in the sunshine. Dr Jane

Wright, directing cancer research (1959) Bellevue Memorial Medical Center, New York City, fascinated by Ott's ideas, instructed progressive-tumour

patients that summer to stay outdoors, avoiding artificial lights where possible & not wearing sunglasses or prescription lenses, which block UV light.

By autumn, the tumours in 14 of 15 had not grown, and some patients improved; one with a deteriorating condition sat outdoors with prescription

lenses. Ott was criticised for a lack of scientifically controlled human studies, but his experience was that funding for study continuation was

withdrawn continuously. A Chicago-area primary school reported leukaemia five times the national average. The afflicted children bar one were all

taught in rooms drawn blinds, and all day exposure to melanoma-promoting fluorescent lights. When UV was returned via window glass, the

leukaemia cluster disappeared. Dr.Raymond Peat, thinks FS sunlight is best received through glass.

• FS Light vs Arthritis and Blindness

Early in his research career, Dr Ott noticed after falling and breaking his glasses that his arthritis disappeared. And in 1996, Marion Patricia Connolly,

executive director of Price–Pottenger Nutrition Foundation (PPNF), had the same experience. Full-spectrum lenses that transmit all ultraviolet light are

difficult to find so it helps to take off your glasses outdoors wherever possible.

Alternating full-spectrum light and total dark cured children born blind as a result of brain injury. The technique was advocated by W. H. Bates in

1904 and endorsed by Aldous Huxley in 1930. Efficacy was confirmed in the recent Annual Report from the British Institute for Brain Injured

Children.

Full-spectrum light, entering the eyes during waking hours, promotes nighttime pineal gland secretion of melatonin. This sleep-promoting antioxidant

destroys carcinogenic hydroxyl radicals and slows ageing. Melatonin can suppress human breast cancer cells growth invitro and cross all barriers to

enter every cell.

Sufficient sleep, achieved in total darkness equates to anti-ageing, antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-heart attack therapy!

In a laboratory, viruses weaken by exposure to full-spectrum light with traces of UV. Infectious organisms like E. coli, dislike ultraviolet too. The Morris

Center in Winnipeg, Canada, promotes "amazing" healing shining full-spectrum light onto wounds.

• FS Light vs Seasonal Affective Disorder

The power of full-spectrum light entering the eyes demonstrates against SAD (seasonal depression). FS light can benefit non-seasonal depression, but

not as dramatically. FS light energises and regulates the body's entire chemistry.

Will shielding millions of people from UV, as recommended, worsen the depression epidemic?

Dietary vitamin D sufficiency is important. Seasonal affective disorder has been treated successfully with vitamin D. In a recent study covering 30 days

of treatment comparing vitamin D supplementation with two-hour daily use of light boxes, depression completely resolved in the D group but not in

the light-box group. "The cells in the eyes retinas will not divide and regenerate without a small amount of ultraviolet light. And so full-spectrum light

reduces the risk of retinal degeneration, the leading cause of blindness among the elderly. Eating a lot of dark-green leafy vegetables such as spinach,93

kale and Brussels sprouts also helps avoid this condition.

Many dermatologists advise older patients to stay out of the sun to avoid skin cancer. To the thousands of elderly patients in nursing homes that advice

may unintentionally help to make patients sicker and older than their years. Staying indoors causes greater problems than skin cancer. Older people's

bones can crumble and break (osteoporosis); and they will depression. Articles in the journals Cancer, Cancer Research and Preventive Medicine

suggest avoiding sunlight could promote cancers development other than those of the skin.

• FS Light vs Neurological Diseases

Research by Reuven Sandyk, MD, who practises medicine in Connecticut, shows that long-term deprivation from sunlight exposure increases the risk

of multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease through depressed melatonin secretion by the brain's pineal gland. This explains the south-north

gradient in the incidence of MS: farther from the equator, becoming more common. Melatonin interferes with oestrogen receptor sites on cells;

excessive oestrogen from the Pill and from HRT causes breast cells to become cancerous, and melatonin blocks this action. The decline in its levels in

everyone's bodies owing to longer daily exposure to light has been suggested as one possible factor explaining the continual spread of cancer in the

20th century.

• FS Light vs CHD and Infection

Staying completely out of the sun may increase heart attack risk and more by another route. David Grimes, MD, at Blackburn Royal Infirmary, UK,

notes that heart attacks are commonest in parts of the world (NW UK) with the least sunshine. UK Asian populations have a particularly high risk of

death from heart attack not explainable on dietary grounds. Originating from sun-strong countries, with a cultural tendency to avoid the sun, Dr

Grimes traces causation of CHD (coronary heart disease) to the microbe Chlamydia pneumoniae and low immune-competence from a low vitamin D

levels among those avoiding sunshine. Sunlight could determine whether squalene, the vitamin D and cholesterol precursor, converts into vitamin D

(in sunshine) or into excessive cholesterol (in deficient sunlight vitamin B6 promotes infection), as a mechanism of increasing risk of heart attack. Dr

Grimes links low immune response, respiratory infections and chronic bronchitis ("English Disease") to sunlight deficiency, worsened by cigarette

smoking.

(In southern Europe, smoking rates are much higher, but recurrent respiratory tract infections are scarce.) Glasgow, Scotland, with sunlight deficiency

has high rates of osteomalacia and rickets.

Dr F. A. Spencer has noted higher incidence of heart attacks in winter related to low levels of vitamin D and depression in winter months.

Crohn's disease (regional enteritis or intestinal irritation) is more common in cloudy NW UK than sunny southern Europe. Current research confirms

Crohn's as a microbial disease, probably due to Mycobacterium paratuberculosis. Mediterranean area sunlight could be protective through immuneenhancement.

There are other risks. . Those with greater amounts of pigment in the skin require six times the amount of ultraviolet B (UVB) light to

produce the same amount of vitamin D3 found in lighter-skinned people. An Alabama researcher found that lack of enough sunshine exposure might

increase hypertension risk in dark-skinned people. Dr Esther John of Northern California Cancer Center reports daily exposure to sunshine, without

sunscreen, appears to lessen the risk of breast cancer.