Sunbeds in current use carry a cancer risk comparable to Mediterranean sunlight. This is due to the use of new high power lamps. New British and European standards are being largely ignored with more than four out of five sunbeds exceeding the limit specified in the standard. There is a strong case for regulation of sunbed operators coupled to improved public education.
An evaluation of two diode array radiometers, an UV spectroradiometer, Type SC-MP-A, from 4D Controls (Redruth, UK) and an USB2000-UV-VIS spectrometer from Ocean Optics (Duiven, NL), was carried out at the Photobiology Unit, University of Dundee. Three parameters of the instruments' performance were investigated, having been identified as the most likely sources of error in phototherapy dosimetry: (1) calibration, (2) stray light rejection, (3) angular response. An assessment was then made of the reliability of this type of instrument for dosimetry in clinical practice by measurement of a selection of phototherapy sources, in direct comparison with calibrated radiometers. Both instruments were found to have significant stray light levels (SC: 13% and USB: 39%). The use of stray light compensation and a high output calibration source improves accuracy to within acceptable limits. Angular responses were satisfactory: f2 values (+/- 60 degrees) of 5.9% and 7.8% for SC and USB, respectively. The SC spectroradiometer is supplied as a calibrated instrument. Using the supplied calibration resulted in errors in measuring phototherapy sources of up to 44% in UVA. Alternative calibration reduced the error in measuring UVA and UVB sources to within 12%. The USB spectrometer was found to have insufficient responsivity in both UVB and UVA to provide reproducible measurements of most phototherapy sources.
In August 2002, kitchen staff at a hotel in Central Scotland experienced skin and eye problems believed to be related to their working environment. Of a total of 20 staff, eight cooks reported problems with a painful red skin affecting the face, eyelids, side and front of neck as well as burning, gritty eyes. Five of the affected individuals were clinically assessed in April 2003. The overall clinical impression was of conjunctivitis and sunburn-like erythema. Examination of the data sheets of all cleaning agents and sprays used within the kitchen pointed against an environmental phototoxin. The kitchen area was inspected and two electric fly killers positioned on the ceiling and sidewalls were found to be incorrectly fitted with UVC tubes. The output of these tubes was spectroradiometrically assessed. The recommended unprotected skin and eye exposure limit was reached in 14 s at a distance of 30 cm from the tubes. An exposure of about 60 s would be sufficient to induce minimal erythema in someone of skin type I/II. These results demonstrate the importance of exposure to ultraviolet radiation as a possible cause of facial erythema and conjunctivitis, no matter how unlikely this may seem. It is recommended that there should be increased awareness of the need to fit the correct type of lamps to electric fly killers and other devices that incorporate UV lamps.
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