Phenothiazine UVA dosimeter: characteristics and performance

Abstract

This paper overviews the characteristics of a phenothiazine-mylar dosimeter which can be used as an effective solar UVA exposure assessment tool. This dosimeter is sensitive to UVA wavelengths (320-400 nm); and its performance has been characterized in a series of tests such as (a) temperature stability of response, (b) impact of long term storage, (c) angular response, (d) spectral response and (e) UVA exposure response (dose-response).There is no effect of long term storage post exposure and no effect of temperature up to approximately 35 o . For angles up to 70 o , the cosine error of the normalized UVA is less than approximately 0.1. There is a strong and positive correlation (R > 0.98) between the ambient UVA exposures measured instrumentally and the UVA dosimeter exposures. These characterizations have confirmed the reliability and reproducibility of a phenothiazine-mylar combined dosimeter as an effective solar UVA exposure tool for field based studies of the UVA exposures to population groups.

Dosimeter based on 8-methoxypsoralen for UVA exposures over extended periods

“…The phenothiazine dosimeter is useable for periods up to approximately half a day at subtropical southern latitudes [9]. Further UVA dosimeters employ the use of radiochromic film for measurement over shorter periods [18,19] however these require frequent changes over extended measurement periods making them impractical for some applications.…”

“…Dosimeters have been employed in a number of studies [6,7,8] that have successfully measured UVB radiation exposures. Dosimeters have also been used to measure UVA exposures for specified wavelengths and limited times [9,10]. There are other dosimetric systems capable of measuring the full UV spectrum and also ionising radiation [11 12].…”

Iron-based radiochromic systems for UV dosimetry applications

“…Iron-based radiochromic systems for UV dosimetry applications 2 H J Lee et al Non-electronic and less expensive UV dosimeters have been extensively investigated for biological UV dosimetry, photochemical research, industrial applications, and indicators for individual exposure to sunlight (Diffey et al 1977, Davis et al 1981, Butsont et al 2000, Lester et al 2003, Rettberg and Cockell 2004, Mills et al 2006, Jia et al 2010. These previous works focused on 2D measurements using film-like dosimeters.…”