Personal UV Dosimetry by <i>Bacillus subtilis</i> Spore Films

Abstract

Background: Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is known to be the most important risk factor for melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. Until today it has been impossible to measure reliably UVR in the frame of epidemiological studies. The recent development of a spore film containing spores of Bacillus subtilis resulted in a new method of UV measurement by personal dosimetry. Methods: The practical application of dosimeters was tested in 18 study persons under different circumstances of UV exposure and in 4 different geographical regions. Results: Eleven children carried dosimeters on their shoulders for 1 day, playing in- and outdoors on a sunny day in summertime. Their whole-day values ranged from 0.1 to 1.5 minimal erythema doses (MED) per day with a mean of 0.71 MED (±0.44). Four lifeguards in a public swimming-pool carried dosimeters on their shoulders for 11 days and received UV exposures ranging from 3.6 to 9.5 MED (mean 5.9 ± 1.88). Three mountain guides with dosimeters attached to the lateral head in different mountain regions at 23 mountaineering activities received daily exposures of 4.44–17.07 MED (mean 11.9 ± 3.8). Conclusion: B. subtilis spore film dosimeters can be applied to different study persons including children and mountain guides under different climatic conditions. A broad range of UV exposures can reliably be measured with this method.

Erythemal ultraviolet solar radiation doses received by young skiers

“…The median daily dose received by the children in this study is lower than that obtained by other studies 42,72 . The observed differences in terms of dose received by the subjects in the present study with respect to the others could be due to different study design factors, such as different times of the year, different dosimeter positions and mainly that the skiers in these two papers were professionals who were outdoors for about 8 h.…”

“…These dosimeters have been used effectively in many studies to monitor personal UV exposure in several outdoor activities [41][42][43][44][45][46] .…”

Solar UV exposure in construction workers in Valencia, Spain

“…These dosimeters have been proved effective for personal UV measurements in outdoor occupations such as building workers (Milon et al, 2007), lifesaving (Moehrle and Garbe, 2000;O'Riordan et al, 2008;Serrano et al 2009), or mountain guides (Moehrle et al, 2003;Moehrle and Garbe, 2000). Spore-film production (DNA repair-deficient strain of Bacillus subtilis) and the development of the films are described in Furusawa et al, 1998 andMunakata et al, 2000.…”

Solar UV exposure of children in a summer school in Valencia, Spain

“…Dosimeters can be used effectively for personal UV measurements in outdoor occupations (Moehrle and Garbe 2000;Serrano et al 2009), recreational activities ( Moehrle and Garbe 2000;Thieden et al 2000;Serrano et al 2010), and school activities (Boldeman et al 2004;Ono et al 2005;Serrano et al 2011). They are easy to place and manage; and have a spectral sensivity profile similar to erythema-weighted data calculated from spectral measurements.…”