Increasing concern about the dangers of exposure to the sun's
ultraviolet rays has spawned interest in sun-protective apparel
and accessories. More than a million cases of skin cancer will
be diagnosed this year in the United States, according to the
American Academy of Dermatology. Almost 45,000 of them will be
the deadly form called melanoma, which kills more than 7,000
people a year. Sun protective clothing, although not cheap, may
be a good choice for some people. Those who could benefit
include people who have been diagnosed with skin cancer or have
a family history of the disease, cancer patients undergoing
chemotherapy or people who spend a large portion of their day
outside. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
categorizes sun-protective clothing as "any apparel product such
as shirts, pants, hats and skirts, that is manufactured or
treated in such a way that it provides added protection from the
damaging effects of the sun's ultraviolet rays." According to
manufacturers of sun protec