Danger ahead from clean air and thin ozone

New Zealanders are at particular risk from the sun's rays. File picture / Alan Gibson

New Zealand's clean air and thin ozone layer means we are receiving about 40 per cent more dangerous cancer-causing ultraviolet radiation than North Americans at corresponding latitudes, a leading atmospheric researcher says.

National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) scientist Richard McKenzie said joint research by Niwa and North American scientists had found New Zealand's summer UV levels were as if the country was actually positioned 450km nearer the equator and 1000m higher in altitude, a Wellington daily newspaper reported.

The research findings, to be published in the international journal Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences, investigated the UV levels in New Zealand.

"It's no doubt an important factor in causing the high rates of skin cancer we have here," Dr McKenzie was reported as saying.

New Zealand has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world.

"UV radiation in New Zealand is only high for its latitude, which is important because most of the people who live here are lighter-skinned and therefore more at risk," Dr McKenzie told the newspaper.

The country's clean air and thinner ozone layer contributed to the risk and helped explain the much higher ultraviolet levels than in North America, where greater pollution blocks more of the rays.

- nzpa