Panama radiation levels climbing
Radiation levels in Panama’s sunny paradise are increasing, leading to increased danger of skin cancer..
At the beginning of skin cancer awareness month Physicist Alfonso Pino, of the University of Panama, reports that during the dry season, 87 percent of the days have hazardous ultraviolet radiation levels and during the rainy season that figure remains high at 65 percent.
The scientist who has been measuring radiation levels 1997 says the readings are higher than levels just a few years ago. Measurements are taken in Panama City, David, and Santiago.
Measurements taken during March and April of this year have found extremely dangerous conditions according to a scale established by the World Health Organization.
As part of the skin cancer awareness program, doctors at the National Oncological Institute will be doing free screenings every Tuesday.
Over 400 new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in Panama, each year not including cases treated in private clinics.
