Global climate change could be causing significant health implications, according to new research, which has uncovered a new link between the depletion of the ozone layer and skin cancer.

Scientists have been exploring the impact of climate change on the globe for some time, but research in relation to health is relatively unfounded. Now, a report conducted by a team of researchers from  Harvard University and published in Science has unveiled that it may also have a dramatic impact on public health.

Their paper warned that there may be a connection between the depletion of the ozone layer over the US and skin cancer. This is caused by more damaging ultraviolet (UV) radiation reaching the earth’s surface.

James G. Anderson, who led the study, said: “If you were to ask me where this fits into the spectrum of things I worry about, right now it’s at the top of the list.

“What this research does is connect, for the first time, climate change with ozone depletion, and ozone loss is directly tied to increases in skin cancer incidence, because more ultraviolet radiation is penetrating the atmosphere.”