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Stratospheric ozone depletion and animal health.
There is an increasing concern over ozone depletion
and its effects on the environment and human health. However, the
increase in ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B) that would result from
significant losses of ozone is also potentially harmful to animals. Any
increase in disease in domestic species would not only have serious
animal welfare implications but may also be economically important. The
diseases which are likely to increase if ozone depletion continues
include the squamous cell carcinomas of the exposed, non-pigmented areas
of cats, cattle, sheep and horses. Uberreiter's syndrome in dogs is also
associated with exposure to UV-B and may be expected to increase, as may
the severity of conditions such as infectious keratoconjunctivitis (New
Forest eye) in cattle. Aquaculture systems in which fish often have
little or no protection by shading may also be at risk. Cataracts and
skin lesions have been associated with the exposure of farmed fish to
ultraviolet radiation and have resulted in significant losses.
PMID: 1529513 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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