With the Supreme Court’s orders to remove black tinted films from vehicles, the law enforcers have launched a massive drive to book the violators by issuing challans. Fearing harassment, many motorists have removed black films from their vehicles only to be exposed to the harmful UV rays.
Many people were seen crowding the skin clinics in order to seek allergy treatment. According to specialists, skin allergies can result with a minimum exposure of 10-15 minutes to the rays. Although, UV-B spectrum of rays (290-320nm) can be filtered by normal glass of car windows, these remain ineffective against UV-A (320-400nm).
Dr. Vikas Sharma, a dermatologist, said, "Even a 10 -15 minute exposure to UV-A rays for patients of skin allergies, lupus erythematosus, severe polymorphous light eruption, melasma, actinic lichen planus and actinic dermatitis who are commuting by their cars daily for some length of time can aggravate their skin diseases. This has resulted in increase in number of patients with aggravation of symptoms related with UV exposure and the numbers are expected to increase.”
As traffic police continues to implement the orders of the Supreme Court for removing tinted films, problems of people suffering from skin diseases due to UV rays have increased. Another dermatologist, Dr. Maleeka Sachdev, said, "Those who have sun sensitivity have to adopt other methods to block UV rays. Wearing cotton garments and application of sunscreen can offer protection.”
UV-A rays, which penetrates the skin more deeply, cannot be filtered by ordinary windows resulting in skin lesions and pre-cancerous skin lesions. Premature aging of skin is also caused by continuous exposure to the UV-A rays of Sun. Dr. Vikas, said, "Clear glass allows up to 75% of UVA to pass. In majority of cars, the windshield is built of laminated glass that blocks all of UV-B and most of UV-A. However, the side and rear windows are usually made from non-laminated glass and let much of UV-A rays through.”
On the first day of the drive launched by traffic police of Delhi against violators, the number of people prosecuted crossed 4,000. The drive started around 10 am in the national capital where 50 teams were deployed. Of the total 4,915 vehicles challaned, 4,868 were private cars, 45 taxis and two mini buses. Although the fine against violation is only Rs. 100, the price of the black film is 10 times more.
