Human health in relation to exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation under changing stratospheric ozone and climate

Lucas, Robyn; Yazar, Seyhan; Young, Antony R.; Norval, Mary; Gruijl, Frank R. de; Takizawa, Yukio; Rhodes, Lesley E.; Sinclair, Craig; Neale, Rachel E.

doi:10.1039/c8pp90060d

Cited by 169 publications

(125 citation statements)

References 361 publications

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“…The differences between the two simulations (shown on the right) reveal a decreasing trend in total cloud cover of −1.4% per decade after 2050, which is in accordance with the estimated increase in DNA active UV-B irradiance at ground level. Increased UV-B irradiance active for DNA damage in the future will have adverse effects on humans and the environment [26].…”

Section: Effect Of Ghgs On Surface Dna Active Uv-b Irradiancementioning

confidence: 99%

Possible Effects of Greenhouse Gases to Ozone Profiles and DNA Active UV-B Irradiance at Ground Level

et al. 2020

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In this paper, we compare model calculations of ozone profiles and their variability for the period 1998 to 2016 with satellite and lidar profiles at five ground-based stations. Under the investigation is the temporal impact of the stratospheric halogen reduction (chemical processes) and increase in greenhouse gases (i.e., global warming) on stratospheric ozone changes. Attention is given to the effect of greenhouse gases on ultraviolet-B radiation at ground level. Our chemistry transport and chemistry climate models (Oslo CTM3 and EMAC CCM) indicate that (a) the effect of halogen reduction is maximized in ozone recovery at 1-7 hPa and observed at all lidar stations; and (b) significant impact of greenhouse gases on stratospheric ozone recovery is predicted after the year 2050. Our study indicates that solar ultraviolet-B irradiance that produces DNA damage would increase after the year 2050 by +1.3% per decade. Such change in the model is driven by a significant Atmosphere 2020, 11, 228 2 of 18 decrease in cloud cover due to the evolution of greenhouse gases in the future and an insignificant trend in total ozone. If our estimates prove to be true, then it is likely that the process of climate change will overwhelm the effect of ozone recovery on UV-B irradiance in midlatitudes.

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Section: Effect Of Ghgs On Surface Dna Active Uv-b Irradiancementioning

confidence: 99%

Possible Effects of Greenhouse Gases to Ozone Profiles and DNA Active UV-B Irradiance at Ground Level

et al. 2020

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“…Ultraviolet radiation (UV: 200-400 nm) is a crucial constituent of solar radiation that is further subdivided into three spectral bands: UV-A (315-400 nm), , and . Wavelengths of the most damaging spectrum (i.e., UV-C) are entirely absorbed by stratospheric ozone and consequently do not reach the earth's surface, whereas UV-A and UV-B are only partially attenuated in the atmosphere and therefore reach the ocean, where they can impact marine organisms in the euphotic zone (Smith and Baker, 1989;Williamson et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unraveling the Seasonality of UV Exposure in Reef Waters of a Rapidly Warming (Sub-)tropical Sea

Overmans

Agustı́

2020

Front. Mar. Sci.

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Ultraviolet radiation (UV) is a crucial abiotic stressor that can have severe impacts on biota residing in the upper euphotic zone, especially if UV stress coincides with other stressors such as extreme sea surface temperatures (SSTs). Exposure-dependent effects of UV exposure have been described for a broad range of marine taxa and ecosystems such as coral reefs, yet little is known about the magnitude and seasonality of UV exposure in natural waters. In the present study, we determined how daily exposure of UV-B and UV-A varies seasonally along the water column of a reef system in the central Red Sea, and identified periods when damaging UV levels are likely to coincide with episodes of extreme SST, both presently and in the future. Between July 2016 and September 2018, UV spectroradiometer profiles were recorded fortnightly at a pelagic site adjacent to a mid-shore reef off the Saudi Arabian Red Sea coast, while atmospheric UV-B and UV-A irradiances were measured in 10-min intervals. Additionally, we quantified the concentration of chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) and absorption by chromophoric dissolved organic matter (aCDOM) in the reef as well as the surrounding waters. Biologically effective optical depths (Z10%) ranged from 6.3-12.9 m (UV-B) and 14.4-27.3 m (UV-A), with the highest UV transparency being observed in late summer when photodegradation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) was most intense and the concentration and molecular weight of CDOM were at their lowest. Incident UV peaked a few weeks prior to this later summer maximum in UV transparency. Consequently, organisms living close to the water surface experienced their most intense UV exposure in May/June, while the timing of maximum UV exposure for biota below ∼2-4 m coincided with the annual peak in water transparency and water temperature, i.e., in July/August. However, SSTs in the Red Sea are increasing at a rapid rate due to climate change, with the consequence that extreme temperatures are occurring earlier in the year and may eventually coincide with extreme UV radiation in shallower areas of the reef. This development could have potentially detrimental effects on highly sensitive, immotile reef biota such as reef-building corals.

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“…On the other hand, excessive exposure to UV radiation leads to several harmful health effects on the skin through sunburn, melanoma, and non-melanoma carcinoma, on the eye through cataracts, pterygium (growth of conjunctiva in eye), and photoconjunctivitis (inflammation of conjunctiva), photoconjunctivitis (inflammation of conjunctiva), photokeratitis (inflammation of the cornea), and suppression of the immune system [1,[3][4][5]. Thus, it is important for people to control their exposure to UV radiation [1,6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In agreement with observations, the model predicts that the UV Index at local noontime can drop from 10-11 on clear sky days to approximately 6-7 during typical dusty conditions in the Arabian Peninsula-an effect similar to the presence of extensive cloud cover.Atmosphere 2020, 11, 96 2 of 17 photokeratitis (inflammation of the cornea), and suppression of the immune system [1,[3][4][5]. Thus, it is important for people to control their exposure to UV radiation [1,6].The UV radiation on the Earth's surface is largely determined by the solar zenith angle, clouds, total ozone column, surface albedo, aerosols, earth-sun distance, and altitude [7]. Clouds poorly absorb UV radiation and in general, scatter UV radiation into the atmosphere [8,9].…”

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confidence: 99%

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UV Index Forecasting under the Influence of Desert Dust: Evaluation against Surface and Satellite-Retrieved Data

et al. 2020

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Human exposure to healthy doses of UV radiation is required for vitamin D synthesis, but exposure to excessive UV irradiance leads to several harmful impacts ranging from premature wrinkles to dangerous skin cancer. However, for countries located in the global dust belt, accurate estimation of the UV irradiance is challenging due to a strong impact of desert dust on incoming solar radiation. In this work, a UV Index forecasting capability is presented, specifically developed for dust-rich environments, that combines the use of ground-based measurements of broadband irradiances UVA (320-400 nm) and UVB (280-315 nm), NASA OMI Aura satellite-retrieved data and the meteorology-chemistry mesoscale model WRF-Chem. The forecasting ability of the model is evaluated for clear sky days as well as during the influence of dust storms in Doha, Qatar. The contribution of UV radiation to the total incoming global horizontal irradiance (GHI) ranges between 5% and 7% for UVA and 0.1% and 0.22% for UVB. The UVI forecasting performance of the model is quite encouraging with an absolute average error of less than 6% and a correlation coefficient of 0.93. In agreement with observations, the model predicts that the UV Index at local noontime can drop from 10-11 on clear sky days to approximately 6-7 during typical dusty conditions in the Arabian Peninsula-an effect similar to the presence of extensive cloud cover.Atmosphere 2020, 11, 96 2 of 17 photokeratitis (inflammation of the cornea), and suppression of the immune system [1,[3][4][5]. Thus, it is important for people to control their exposure to UV radiation [1,6].The UV radiation on the Earth's surface is largely determined by the solar zenith angle, clouds, total ozone column, surface albedo, aerosols, earth-sun distance, and altitude [7]. Clouds poorly absorb UV radiation and in general, scatter UV radiation into the atmosphere [8,9]. Stratospheric ozone (ozone layer) predominantly absorbs UV radiation at wavelengths below 320 nm [10]. The extent of reflectivity from a surface affects UV surface irradiance with higher surface albedo enhancing the net UV surface irradiance due to multiple scattering of the reflected irradiance with the atmosphere. For example, a surface covered by snow (with albedo of 0.8) will increase UV irradiance at 320 nm by 1.5 times compared to snow-free, low albedo conditions [11]. Aerosols also affect the incoming UV irradiance. They usually decrease UV irradiance reaching the surface by scattering and absorption. A measurement campaign in Greece showed that UV irradiance decreased by 5-35% due to aerosols [12], and similar numbers of annual average aerosol attenuation of UV irradiance were obtained around the globe [13]. Desert dust intrusions also affect UV irradiance with differences larger than 30% in cloudless conditions in Santiago de Chile [14,15]. These differences in UV irradiance highlight the need for ground-based measurements to account for the attenuation of UV radiation in the troposphere which are not accounted for in satellite derived es...

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Human health in relation to exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation under changing stratospheric ozone and climate

Abstract: The Montreal Protocol has limited increases in the UV-B (280–315 nm) radiation reaching the Earth's surface as a result of depletion of stratospheric ozone. Exposure to UV-B radiation has both risks and benefits for human health.

Cited by 169 publications

References 361 publications

Possible Effects of Greenhouse Gases to Ozone Profiles and DNA Active UV-B Irradiance at Ground Level

Possible Effects of Greenhouse Gases to Ozone Profiles and DNA Active UV-B Irradiance at Ground Level

Unraveling the Seasonality of UV Exposure in Reef Waters of a Rapidly Warming (Sub-)tropical Sea

UV Index Forecasting under the Influence of Desert Dust: Evaluation against Surface and Satellite-Retrieved Data

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