How does UV radiation affect the bodys defense against disease?
Exposure to UV-B can suppress immune response in humans and animals. Increased UV-B could therefore reduce human resistance to a number of diseases, including cancers, allergies and some infectious diseases. In areas of the world where infectious are already a major problem, the added stress from increased UV-B could be significant. This is especially true for diseased, such as leishmaniasis, malaria and herpes, against which the bodys major defence is in the skin. Exposure to UV-B can also affect the bodys ability to respond to vaccination against disease.
