RESUMEN
Minimizing exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is an essential component of skin cancer prevention. Providing and using natural and built shade is an effective protection measure against harmful UV. This article describes the factors that must be addressed to ensure quality, effective, well-designed shade and recommends best practice approaches to improving the protection factor (PF) of shade structures. It identifies examples of interventions to increase shade availability and use, and examples of effective shade based on measured protection factors or measured reductions in UV exposures. Finally, this article considers examples of best practice for undertaking shade audits. The article is based on refereed articles and reviews, reports, conference papers and shade practice and policies from reports and on web sites. Articles for the Australian setting are considered first, followed by those in an international setting.
Asunto(s)
ADN/metabolismo , Represoras Lac , ADN/química , Modelos Teóricos , Método de MontecarloRESUMEN
The solar irradiances for the initiation of vitamin D synthesis (UV(D3)) have been measured concurrently with the amount of cloud cover to investigate the influence of high cloud cover fraction. The cases of 6.5 and more octa cloud cover were considered for five solar zenith angle (SZA) ranges up to 80°. For each of the SZA ranges, the UV(D3) reduced due to the high cloud cover. The average of the ratios of the UV(D3) irradiances on a cloudy day to those on a clear day with the corresponding ozone and SZA are 0.71 for the 6.5-7.5 octa cloud and 0.45 for the more than 7.5 octa cloud ranges. The exposure times necessary to receive 1/3 MED to a horizontal plane were found to increase as the amount of cloud cover increased. For each cloud cover category, the range of values increased with cloud cover and with SZA. This research shows that the current public recommendations on the times of solar UV exposures required to produce adequate vitamin D are inappropriate for situations of more than 6.5 octa cloud.
Asunto(s)
Clima , Rayos Ultravioleta , Vitamina D/biosíntesis , Humanos , Dosis de RadiaciónRESUMEN
This paper reports on the development of a blue light (VIS(BL)) dosemeter. The VIS(BL) dosemeter is based on the combination of polysulfone and phenothiazine as a potential VIS(BL) dosemeter for population studies of exposures related to the blue light hazard. This research found that this combination of photosensitive chromophores reacts to both ultraviolet and visible wavelengths of the solar spectrum. Further to this, the majority of the ultraviolet wavelengths <380 nm can be filtered out with the use of a low-pass filter. It was found that a large change in optical absorbance at 437 nm occurred when the dosemeter was employed to quantify the solar blue light hazard exposures. Preliminary results indicate that this dosemeter saturates relatively slowly and is able to measure exposures equivalent to >1200 kJ m(-2) of blue light hazard weighted solar radiation.
Asunto(s)
Luz , Radiometría/métodos , Australia , Calibración , Humanos , Óptica y Fotónica , Fenotiazinas/química , Polímeros/química , Reproducibilidad de los Resultados , Espectrofotometría/métodos , Sulfonas/química , Luz Solar , Factores de Tiempo , Rayos UltravioletaRESUMEN
This paper reports on the development of a dosimeter for the measurement of biologically effective UV exposures related to melanoma induction. The melanoma (UVMel) dosimeter is based on the combination of polysulfone and nalidixic acid. This research found that the combination of these photosensitive chromophores reacts to UV wavelengths from 290 to 390 nm. It was found that a large change in optical absorbance occurred at 345 nm when the dosimeter was employed to quantify the solar UV waveband. Preliminary results indicate that this UVMel dosimeter can measure exposures of more than 189 kJ m(-2) of biologically effective weighted solar UV radiation with an inter-dosimeter variability of no more than +/-5%.
Asunto(s)
Dosimetría por Película/instrumentación , Rayos Ultravioleta , Absorción , Animales , Calibración , Ciprinodontiformes , Oscuridad , Relación Dosis-Respuesta en la Radiación , Dosimetría por Película/métodos , Melanoma/etiología , Ácido Nalidíxico/química , Polímeros/química , Reproducibilidad de los Resultados , Sistema Solar , Sulfonas/química , Factores de TiempoRESUMEN
Poly (2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PPO) film is a useful dosimetric tool for measuring solar UV in underwater and terrestrial environments. However, little is known about how the response of PPO changes with fluctuations in atmospheric ozone and also to seasonal variations. To resolve this issue this article presents a series of long-term in-air solar erythemal response measurements made over a year from 2007 to 2008 with PPO. This data showed that the PPO dose response varies with modulations of the solar spectrum resulting from changes in season and atmospheric ozone. From this, it was recommended that PPO only be calibrated in the season in which it is to be used at the same time as measurements were being made in the field. Extended solar UV measurements made by PPO with a neutral density filter (NDF) based on polyethylene are also detailed. These measurements showed that the lifetime of PPO could be extended by 5 days before saturation. As the dynamic range for PPO is known to be 5 days during summer at a sub-tropical location, the advantage of using the NDF is that half the number of dosimeters is needed to be fabricated and measured before and after exposure.
Asunto(s)
Exposición a Riesgos Ambientales/análisis , Fenoles/efectos de la radiación , Polímeros/efectos de la radiación , Radiometría/instrumentación , Luz Solar , Calibración , Diseño de Equipo , Semivida , Ozono , Radiometría/métodos , Estaciones del Año , Rayos UltravioletaRESUMEN
This paper evaluates the global vitamin D effective UV (UV(vitd)) irradiances under cloudy conditions at a subtropical, southern hemisphere site. The UV(vitd) irradiances were analyzed on a horizontal plane and sampled at 5-min intervals over 18 months so that a wide range of parameters including cloud conditions, solar zenith angles (SZA) and ozone levels were taken into account. Cloud modification factors were determined from the influence of clouds on the global broadband solar radiation, and these were applied to the cloud-free vitamin D effective UV irradiance to evaluate the UV(vitd) irradiances on a horizontal plane for cloudy conditions. For vitamin D effective UV irradiance, cloud modification factors were found to range from 0.9 to 1.0 for no cloud and 0.4 to 0.5 for 8 octa of cloud cover. SZA played a minimal role in this variation. A comparison of the measured and calculated UV(vitd) irradiances for the 2004 data set in the range of SZA of 70 degrees or less provided an R(2) value of 0.90. The output of the model was compared to data measured during the first 6 months of 2005 for an SZA of 70 degrees or less and provided an R(2) value of approximately 0.82.
Asunto(s)
Luz Solar , Clima Tropical , Vitamina D/biosíntesis , Investigación Empírica , HumanosRESUMEN
Abstract This paper reports on the variation of UV radiation in full sun and in shade and how this relates to the physiological production of vitamin D(3) for various latitudes. Calibrated spectral measurements were used to measure the UV radiation in the shade of numerous shade environments for varying solar zenith angles and seasons. This was for exposures to the horizontal, 45 degrees and vertical planes for the solar zenith angle (SZA) range of approximately 5 degrees to 80 degrees. For an SZA of approximately 5 degrees, average UV irradiances required for vitamin D(3) production (UV(D3)) were 0.67 W/m(2) and 0.20 W/m(2) for global and for shade with a sky view of greater than 40%, respectively. The best time to expose the human body to UV radiation while using shaded environments with a sky view of greater than 40% for vitamin D(3) synthesis is for SZAs less than approximately 45 degrees. Shade can be used throughout Australia during summer and winter. However, winter exposure times will vary depending on the latitude. Using shade for UV(D3) exposures can reduce total UV-radiation exposure by 37% to 58% compared to full sun UV(D3) exposures. This research indicates that an improved approach to optimize UV-radiation exposures for the production of vitamin D(3) is to use diffuse UV radiation under shade in and around the middle of the day.
Asunto(s)
Colecalciferol/biosíntesis , Oscuridad , Exposición a Riesgos Ambientales/análisis , Geografía , Luz Solar , Rayos Ultravioleta , Australia , Colecalciferol/metabolismo , Difusión , Humanos , Dosis de Radiación , Factores de TiempoRESUMEN
The solar erythemal UV irradiances through human hair and the protection from UV provided by human head hair have been investigated for a solar zenith angle (SZA) range of 17-51 degrees for the conditions of a head upright in full sun, a head upright in shade and a head in full sun tilted toward the sun. The two hair lengths investigated were 49.1 +/- 7.1 mm for the short type and 109.5 +/- 5.5 mm for the long type. For the head upright in full sun, the irradiances through the hair ranged from 0.75 to 1.4 SED h(-1) for SZA <25 degrees and <0.6 SED h(-1) in shade. The ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) ranged from approximately 5 to 17 in full sun, with the UPF increasing with higher SZA. The longer hair provided a lower UPF than the shorter hair and for the head oriented toward the sun, there was a marginally lower UPF than for the upright head. This research shows that the UV exposure limits to the scalp through hair can be exceeded within short timeframes and provides important information to assist employers to comply with Workplace Health and Safety legislation.
Asunto(s)
Cabello/efectos de la radiación , Cabeza/efectos de la radiación , Rayos Ultravioleta , HumanosRESUMEN
Currently, there is a major gap in the knowledge that is needed to optimize the beneficial effects related to ultraviolet (UV) radiation at wavelengths that induce vitamin D(3) synthesis (UV(D3)) compared to reducing the biologically damaging overexposure to UV radiation. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of diffuse (radiation that is scattered from all directions) UV radiation to optimize exposures to UV(D3) radiation and maximize the reduction of exposure to UVA radiation. Data on global and diffuse solar UV-radiation spectra were collected at 10-min intervals in the Southern Hemisphere in the late spring and summer from 1 November 2006 to 28 February 2007. For a solar zenith angle (SZA) of approximately 5 degrees , the observed maximum UV(D3) irradiances were 0.80 W/m(2) and 0.46 W/m(2) for global and diffuse UV radiation, respectively. The observed maximum UVA irradiances were 79.0 W/m(2) and 36.2 W/m(2) for global and diffuse UV radiation, respectively. For diffuse UV radiation, the maximum ratio of vitamin D(3) to UVA radiation was 1.75% at a SZA of approximately 10 degrees , whereas the maximum ratio for global UV was 1.27% at 10 degrees . For SZAs of 25 degrees and less, more UV radiation is in the wavelength region contributing to vitamin D(3) synthesis (UV(D3)) than in the UVA region for diffuse UV radiation than for global UV radiation.
Asunto(s)
Exposición a Riesgos Ambientales/análisis , Monitoreo de Radiación/métodos , Estaciones del Año , Espectrofotometría Ultravioleta/métodos , Luz Solar , Deficiencia de Vitamina D/prevención & control , Vitamina D/biosíntesis , Carga Corporal (Radioterapia) , Humanos , Dosis de Radiación , Efectividad Biológica Relativa , Dispersión de RadiaciónRESUMEN
Solar ultraviolet radiation (UV) is known to have a significant effect upon the marine ecosystem. This has been documented by many previous studies using a variety of measurement methods in aquatic environments such as oceans, streams and lakes. Evidence gathered from these investigations has shown that UVB radiation (280-320 nm) can negatively affect numerous aquatic life forms, while UVA radiation (320-400 nm) can both damage and possibly even repair certain types of underwater life. Chemical dosimeters such as polysulphone have been tested to record underwater UV exposures and in turn quantify the relationship between water column depth and dissolved organic carbon levels to the distribution of biologically damaging UV underwater. However, these studies have only been able to intercept UV exposures over relatively short time intervals. This paper reports on the evaluation of a high exposure UV dosimeter for underwater use. The UV dosimeter was fabricated from poly 2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide (PPO) film. This paper presents the dose response, cosine response, exposure additivity and watermarking effect relating to the PPO dosimeter as measured in a controlled underwater environment and will also detail the overnight dark reaction and UVA and visible radiation response of the PPO dosimeter, which can be used for error correction to improve the reliability of the UV data measured by the PPO dosimeters. These results show that this dosimeter has the potential for long-term underwater UV exposure measurements.
Asunto(s)
Ecosistema , Radiometría/instrumentación , Luz Solar , Calibración , Oscuridad , Relación Dosis-Respuesta en la RadiaciónRESUMEN
The aims of this paper were to investigate how glass-filtered UV irradiances vary with glass thickness, lamination of the glass and the effect of solar zenith angle (SZA), and to measure the glass-filtered UV exposures to different receiving planes with a newly developed UVA dosimeter. Spectroradiometric and dosimetric techniques were employed in the experimental approach. The percentage of the glass-filtered solar UV compared to the unfiltered UV ranged from 59% to 70% and was influenced to a small extent by the glass thickness and the SZA. The laminated glass transmitted 11 to 12% and the windscreen glass transmitted 2.5-2.6%. The influence of the SZA was less for the thicker glass than it was for the thinner glass. The change in transmission was less than 14% for the SZA between 48 degrees and 71 degrees. There was negligible influence due to the SZA on the glass-transmitted UV of the laminated and windscreen glass. The influence of the glass thickness in the range of 2-6 mm on the percentage transmission was less than 16%. The influences of the glass thickness and the SZA on the glass-transmitted UV have been incorporated in the use of a UVA dosimeter for the glass-transmitted UV exposures. The UVA dosimeter was employed in the field to measure the glass-filtered UV exposures to different receiving planes. The UVA dosimeter reported has the potential for personal solar UVA exposure measurements.
Asunto(s)
Vidrio , Espectrofotometría Ultravioleta/instrumentación , Luz Solar , Relación Dosis-Respuesta en la RadiaciónRESUMEN
Research shows that a large proportion of shade structures provide insufficient protection against the sun's ultraviolet light. Shade creation guidelines need to be updated. Community organisations such as child care centres and schools that need to provide effective shade are hindered by cost and building regulations. The protective function of shade structures is more important than their aesthetic appeal.