UV can affect human health, crops, forests, wetlands and other ecosystems. These effects may be increased during sudden brief rises in UV which occur in early springtime as ozone levels fall sharply. Other concerns include the long-term effect of many years of exposure to higher UV levels and the effect of UV in combination with other stresses on the environment, such as climate change, acid rain and toxic chemicals. In Canada, research on the effects of UV has focused on human health, agricultural crops, forestry and aquatic ecosystems. Most of the health research has centered on skin cancer and eye damage.
More work is needed in the studies of immune suppression and infectious diseases.
Agricultural and forestry studies have concentrated on determining the sensitivity of Canadian trees and crops to UV levels. Studies such as these may help us to adapt to increasing UV levels. The effects of UV on fresh water lakes and marine ecosystems are complex and poorly understood. Scientists are finding that northern lakes which are already suffering the effects of acid rain and climate change are now further stressed by UV levels. In marine ecosystems, concerns have been raised over the effects on fisheries, particularly Atlantic cod.