Munich's altitude and the risk for skin cancer

Every time I go home my parents comment on how tanned I am.

But I am wondering is melanoma a risk here, we are 500-600m alltitude in Munich so nearer the UV rays ?

I don't think it makes much difference until you're 1000's of metres about sea level.. and considering it really isn't that the sun isn't all that intense in this part of the world, I don't htink you have much to worry about..

UV rays are UV rays whether you are close to the sun or not. You still get tanned/burned in 25 degrees the same way you get tanned/burned at 40 degrees. Yes, they are more intense in some places in others but the end result is still the same. Wear sunscreen.

Well someone had to...

The ozone layer is between 15-30km up and this is the part that absorbs UV rays from the sun. So I don't think you will notice any significant difference until you get up to those heights(!).

The WHO has some pretty decent information packages on the global UV index and protection:
http://www.who.int/uv/publications/globalindex/en/index.html
The 4% average increase they cite for every 300m means you should not worry about Munich's altitude, other variations (cloud cover, time of day, season, latitude) are a lot more important.

Also note that the WHO teaches orthodox tactics for sun protection. A quick look at some press releases of recent studies (go to http://search.eurekalert.org/ and type "sunscreen" in the search box), shows that even if you do wear sunscreen it might not protect against melanoma and some sunscreen ingredients actually worsen the effects of the exposure if not constantly reapplied.

It's called sunshine! But how would they know!?!

Because normally I am as white as a ghost

I think the local's have a bigger UV/cancer risk from the ubiquitous Sonnenstudios - they can't do without their all-over, all-year, tans.

RT