DERMATOLOGISTS URGE SPEED-UP OF BAN ON OZONE-DEPLETING CHEMICALS Possible actions to preserve ozone layer outlined in AAD journal SCHAUHBURG, IL -- November 5, 1992 -- Have the dangers from depletion of stratospheric ozone been exaggerated? Prominent dermatologists don't think so, judging from the resolution passed at their national conference on environmental hazards of the skin held recently in Washington, D.C.
        The more than 140 participants, including invited experts from
 government, industry, and non-profit associations as well as dermatologists,
 voted to support "the most rapid acceleration possible" of attempts to ban
 the use of ozone-depleting chemicals around the world.
         Dermatologists have seen the unfortunate results of a half-century
 of unprotected suntanning -- an epidemic of malignant melanoma and other
 skin cancers. Any depletion of the protective ozone barrier is predicted to
 result in increased numbers of cataracts, skin cancers, and deaths from skin
 cancers. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates than an additional 12
 million cases of skin cancer and 210,000 skin cancer deaths will occur
 during the next 50 years if atmospheric ozone depletion continues at its
 current rate.
         At the same time, a comprehensive and balanced appraisal of ozone
 and its protective effects on all forms of life has just been published in
 
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