Enhanced UV-B also has the potential to
impact on other aspects of modern human life. Exposure to UV-radiation
is the primary cause of degradation of non-metallic material outdoors;
rubbers (natural and synthetic) and plastics are particularly vulnerable.
Effects include discoloration, cracking and overall weakening of
material. Increases in incident UV- B will, therefore, have consequences
for the building industry, the transport manufacturing and maintenance
industries and a wide range of other materials sectors. The unaccounted
global damage from UV-B acting upon materials may well be in the hundreds of
millions of dollars on a yearly basis.
