Car’s side windows could cause skin cancer by exposing one to sun rays

A new study conducted to find out how much protection a car offers from sun's UV-A rays, which are responsible for causing skin cancer. The skin cancer is a growing health issue in many nations across the world today. Every day Americans drive for long hours and the research conducted in California found results that could be used by the car owners who take long trip on cars regularly.

The researchers concluded that the front windshield can prevent sun rays from causing harm, while same could not be said about side windows. The research was conducted by Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler, of the Boxer Wachler Vision Institute in Beverly Hills. Wachler examined the ultraviolet protection provided by the glass in 29 cars from 15 different automobile manufacturers.

Wachler measured levels of ambient UV-A radiation behind the front windshield and behind the driver's side window of the cars, which were produced between 1990 and 2014. He found that windshield windows offer good protection against UV-A, while side windows of cars offer lower and inconsistent protection.

The study concluded that windshields blocked an average of 96% of UV-A rays, while the proportion for side windows was 71%. A high level of side-window UV-A protection was offered by only 14% of the cars. The low rate of protection could cause left eye cataracts and skin cancer on the left side of face.

"While UV-B is a shorter wavelength of light and is blocked by glass, UV-A is longer and goes deeper into the skin causing both skin cancer and premature aging as it breaks down collagen”, said Dr. Doris Day, a dermatologist and skin cancer expert at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. UV-A rays can be more dangerous to the skin. Day advises people to use sunscreen when driving cars and those drivers can buy special window tint products that block 99% of UV rays.