PHYSICAL FACTORS SUMMARY PAGE

Radiation - Sunlight (UV Radiation):

Summary Information
Classification Physical / Climate, Atmosphere, Radiation & Electricity / Type:

(This physical factors section is currently used in WILDPro predominantly to link different data types and demonstrate inter-relationships. It does not contain detailed information on the physical factor itself.)

Synonyms --
Notes
  • Direct sunlight   consists of various types of radiation, particularly visible light, but with ultraviolet radiation also being emitted. Ionizing radiation (of which UV radiation is one type) may damage cell membranes and cause denaturation of cell in tissues. This may result in burns (sunburn), particularly on non-pigmented skin.
  • Exposure to excessive ultraviolet radiation is recognized to play a role in the development of some forms of skin cancers (tumours) in man.
  • Experimental work has shown that UV radiation may result in alterations in developing embryos.
  • ultraviolet radiation has sterilizing properties and both natural sunlight and artificial ultraviolet radiation have been used for sterilization.
  • In birds sunburn is only likely to occur on non-feathered areas.
  • Normal amounts of sunlight may lead to damage to areas uncovered by feathers in birds which have consumed plants containing photo-sensitizing agents.
  • The possibility of the involvement of UV radiation in the development of some tumours   in waterfowl cannot be discounted.
Directly Associated Waterfowl Diseases
  • Burns (Chemical burns, Friction burns Sunburn)
  • Calcium / Phosphorus / Vitamin D Imbalance (Rickets, Nutritional Secondary Hyperparathyroidism, Calcium Deficiency, Hypovitaminosis D, Vitamin D3 Deficiency, Calcium - Phosphorus Imbalance, Fibrous Osteodystrophy, Metabolic Bone Disease, Nutritional Bone Disease)
  • Congenital Abnormalities (Congenital malformation)
  • Multicentric Mesenchymal Tumours (Multicentric neurofibrosarcoma, Liposarcoma, Disseminated fibrosarcomas, Lipomatosis/fibromatosis, Spindle cell sarcoma)
  • Neoplasias (Tumours)
  • Plant-Induced Photosensitization (Primary) (Phytophotodermatitis, Plant-Induced Photosensitisation)
  • Sunstroke / Heatstroke

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