What are the odds of getting sunburned through my giant office windows?
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As with many science questions, the annoying answer is "it depends!" No, you won't get a sunburn, but unless you have special glass, you could get skin damage.
Here's a little dialog I found which explains it:
Y: Don, get in the car, we have a long trip ahead.
D: Hang on, Yael, I'm putting on some sunscreen.
Y: Why do you need sunscreen? We're not traveling in a convertible.
D: I know, but I still don't want to get too much exposure to the sun. You know that can be dangerous.
Y: Yes, but we're not going to be outside, and we're riding in an air-conditioned car.
D: Yeah, but it has windows doesn't it?
Y: Of course it does, but you can't get sunburned through a car window because the glass blocks the ultraviolet rays that burn.
D: True, but that's only part of the story. Glass blocks UV-B rays, and those are the ones that cause sunburn. However, unless it's specially coated or tinted, glass does not block UV-A rays, and those are the rays that penetrate deeper and can cause skin damage, possibly even skin cancer. Since you don't burn through the glass you don't realize anything is going on. In short, you don't get burned, but the UV-A rays damage your skin without your knowing it for a long time. In fact, some specialists advise you to wear sunscreen if you're going to be driving in most of North America for more than about twenty minutes, and even less than twenty in the southern states.
Y: Wow! You drive, and I'll slather on some SPF-30.
D: Good idea. And make sure it blocks both UV-A AND UV-B for maximum protection.
http://amos.indiana.edu/library/scripts/sunburn.html
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/health_science/articles/2004/07/20/can_you_get_a_sunburn_in_the_car_with_the_windows_up/
Here's a little dialog I found which explains it:
Y: Don, get in the car, we have a long trip ahead.
D: Hang on, Yael, I'm putting on some sunscreen.
Y: Why do you need sunscreen? We're not traveling in a convertible.
D: I know, but I still don't want to get too much exposure to the sun. You know that can be dangerous.
Y: Yes, but we're not going to be outside, and we're riding in an air-conditioned car.
D: Yeah, but it has windows doesn't it?
Y: Of course it does, but you can't get sunburned through a car window because the glass blocks the ultraviolet rays that burn.
D: True, but that's only part of the story. Glass blocks UV-B rays, and those are the ones that cause sunburn. However, unless it's specially coated or tinted, glass does not block UV-A rays, and those are the rays that penetrate deeper and can cause skin damage, possibly even skin cancer. Since you don't burn through the glass you don't realize anything is going on. In short, you don't get burned, but the UV-A rays damage your skin without your knowing it for a long time. In fact, some specialists advise you to wear sunscreen if you're going to be driving in most of North America for more than about twenty minutes, and even less than twenty in the southern states.
Y: Wow! You drive, and I'll slather on some SPF-30.
D: Good idea. And make sure it blocks both UV-A AND UV-B for maximum protection.
http://amos.indiana.edu/library/scripts/sunburn.html
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/health_science/articles/2004/07/20/can_you_get_a_sunburn_in_the_car_with_the_windows_up/
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