Australian laundry detergent offers UV protection

http://www.wired.com/news/medtech/0,1286,65967,00.html
Getting Burned? Put on a Shirt
By Stephen Leahy
02:00 AM Dec. 09, 2004 PT
As summer begins to sizzle in the Southern Hemisphere, Australians
have found a new way to protect themselves from the fierce sunlight:
laundry detergent with UV protection. With every wash, the sun
protection provided by T–shirts and other clothing is increased until
it's five to 10 times more effective.
Australians have the world's highest rates of skin cancer –– about 80
percent of all cancers diagnosed each year in Australia are skin
cancers. The continent has some of the highest levels of ultraviolet,
or UV, radiation in the world because it has lots of sunny weather
and, every spring for the past 20 years, a giant hole has opened in
the ozone layer over nearby Antarctica.
The UV protection from Australia's Radiant 3 in 1 Colour Care laundry
detergent comes from a special UV–absorbing chemical compound called
Tinosorb FD, which is made by Switzerland's Ciba Specialty Chemicals.
Tinosorb FD helps protect against both UVA and UVB radiation. (UVB has
a shorter wavelength than UVA, and is more likely to cause sunburns
and skin cancer.)
Based on a slight modification of a molecule that has been used as a
brightening agent in detergents for years, Tinosorb FD consists of a
UVA–absorbing portion to which two UVB–absorbing structures are bound.
Visible light is not absorbed, so the compound doesn't affect colors.
The chemical penetrates the fibers but they will not feel any
different, said Ellen Werner, a spokeswoman for Ciba.
According to the manufacturer, Radiant can increase the sun protection
provided by clothing so the garments block at least 96 percent of UV
radiation.
That's a "really good idea" according to Jon Starr, a dermatologist on
the clinical faculty at Stanford University.
"Light, loose–weave fabrics like cottons offer as little sun
protection as SPF 5 to 8," said Starr.
SPF, or sun protection factor, is used to measure how much of the
sun's harmful UV radiation is being blocked by sunscreen lotion. An
SPF 15 sunscreen blocks 92 percent of the UVB rays and is considered
minimal protection.
Most people think all clothing will protect them, but that's not the
case, said Starr. Jeans offer a very good level of protection, as do
garments made from other tightly woven, dark fabrics. However, on a
hot, sticky day, those aren't the kinds of clothing people usually
reach for.
Rit Sun Guard, a U.S. consumer product that contains Tinosorb FD, can
be added to a load of laundry to increase the sun protection of
clothing, Werner said.
Skin cancer is also a serious problem in the United States, resulting
in more than 1 million new cases this year, according to the American
Cancer Society. Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, is an
epidemic, said Starr.
Americans aren't getting the message that there is no such thing as a
safe tan. "Any exposure to UV radiation causes mutations in the DNA in
skin cells," he said. "The more exposure, the more mutations, which
increases the chances of developing skin cancers."
You don't need to hide inside, though: Just use a broad–spectrum
sunscreen and wear clothes that offer real sun protection, Starr said.
––
Consequences, shmonsequences, as long as I'm rich. – D. Duck