Sunburn and cancer are caused by _________ radiation.

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Multiple Choice

Sunburn and cancer are caused by _________ radiation.

Explanation:
UVB radiation is the main cause. It has enough energy to directly damage skin cell DNA, forming lesions such as thymine dimers. If these DNA errors aren’t repaired, they can lead to mutations and skin cancer. UVC is mostly blocked by the atmosphere, so it doesn’t reach us in significant amounts to cause sunburn. UVA can contribute to damage through reactive oxygen species and is more linked to aging and some cancer risk, but it’s less efficient at causing sunburn. Visible light doesn’t produce the same DNA damage that drives sunburn and cancer.

UVB radiation is the main cause. It has enough energy to directly damage skin cell DNA, forming lesions such as thymine dimers. If these DNA errors aren’t repaired, they can lead to mutations and skin cancer. UVC is mostly blocked by the atmosphere, so it doesn’t reach us in significant amounts to cause sunburn. UVA can contribute to damage through reactive oxygen species and is more linked to aging and some cancer risk, but it’s less efficient at causing sunburn. Visible light doesn’t produce the same DNA damage that drives sunburn and cancer.

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