Harsh UVB bursts leave tadpoles with more DNA damage than longer exposure

Sunburn is a serious problem in the Southern Hemisphere, where depleted ozone provides less protection from UVB. Tadpoles are at particular risk because they are growing rapidly, making them vulnerable to UVB DNA damage. Niclas Lundsgaard of The University of Queensland (UQ), Australia, says the seriousness of sunburn was thought to be directly linked to the degree of exposure, so that a long, weak dose of UVB would yield the same DNA damage as a short, intense dose that resulted in the same overall exposure.