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by pton_xd 653 days ago
What's the mechanism by which UVA and UVB radiation cause cancer?
2 comments

From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ionizing_radiation :

>Exposure to ionizing radiation causes cell damage to living tissue and organ damage.

>Gamma rays, X-rays, and the higher energy ultraviolet part of the electromagnetic spectrum are ionizing radiation, whereas the lower energy ultraviolet, visible light, nearly all types of laser light, infrared, microwaves, and radio waves are non-ionizing radiation

In other words, the UV causes cancer because it's in the ionizing range of the spectrum. Radio waves don't because they're not.

Aren't UVA and UVB the low energy / non-ionizing parts of the UV spectrum?
You're right! But also, it's effectively the same as ionizing:

"UV-A and UV-B are technically non-ionizing, but all UV wavelengths can cause photochemical reactions that to some extent mimic ionization. For example, ultraviolet light, even in the non-ionizing range, can produce free radicals that induce cellular damage and can cause skin cancer."

https://radiation.ncdhhs.gov/NonIonizing/UVRad.htm#:~:text=U....

Ionization
The non-ionizing range of UV still poses a cancer risk.