Solar UVR Exposure, Concurrent Activities and Sun-Protective Practices Among Primary Schoolchildren

Abstract

Comprehensive measures of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure, concurrent activities and sun-protective practices are needed to develop and evaluate skin cancer prevention and sun protection interventions. The UVR exposures of 345 primary schoolchildren at 23 schools around New Zealand were measured using electronic UVR monitors for 1-week periods over 12 weeks in 2004 and 2005. In addition, ambient UVR levels on a horizontal surface were measured on-site at each school. Children completed activity diaries during the period UVR measurements were made and provided information on their indoor and outdoor status and clothing and sun protection worn. Mean total daily UVR exposure (7:00-20:00 h NZST + 1) at the body location where the UVR monitors were worn was 0.9 SED (standard erythemal dose, 1 SED = 100 J m(-2)). This was 4.9% of the ambient UVR on a horizontal surface. Mean time spent outdoors was 2.3 h day(-1). Differences in children's UVR exposure could be explained in part by activity, where outdoor passive pursuits were associated with higher UVR exposure rates than outdoor active and outdoor travel pursuits. Compared with older children, the activities of younger children, although labeled the same, resulted in different UVR exposures, either as a result of reporting differences or a real difference in UVR exposure patterns. UVR exposure rates were generally higher on weekdays compared with the weekend, confirming the important role of school sun protection and skin cancer prevention programs. High UVR exposure activities included physical education, athletics and lunch break.

The validated sun exposure questionnaire: association of objective and subjective measures of sun exposure in a Danish population‐based sample

“…29 They are based on a visible-blind AlGaN photodiode and their spectral response (240-320 nm) and cosine response were previously described by Allen and McKenzie. 29 The version used here was redesigned and manufactured by Scienterra Ltd, New Zealand, and used by Cargill et al, 23 Wright et al 30 and Køster et al 27 The dosimeters were configured to take time-stamped measurements at 30-s intervals from 7:00 to 19:00. Wristbands were attached to the dosimeters.…”

“…The radiation registered on the dosimeter explains the largest part and the influence from the covariates weather and education is similar to the model in Table 4 (timescale). The influence of protection is unclear; 104 0Á40 (0Á23-0Á55)*** 0Á48 (0Á31-0Á61)*** 0Á50 (0Á34-0Á63)*** 35-44 118 0Á52 (0Á38-0Á64)*** 0Á50 (0Á35-0Á63)*** 0Á49 (0Á34-0Á62)*** 45-54 132 0Á61 (0Á49-0Á71)*** 0Á64 (0Á52-0Á73)*** 0Á67 (0Á56-0Á75)*** 55-65 210 0Á48 (0Á37-0Á60)*** 0Á50 (0Á39-0Á60)*** 0Á48 (0Á36-0Á57)*** Skin type I 5 4 0 Á47 (0Á23-0Á66)*** 0Á54 (0Á32-0Á71)*** 0Á47 (0Á23-0Á65)*** II 383 0Á55 (0Á47-0Á61)*** 0Á52 (0Á44-0Á59)*** 0Á55 (0Á47-0Á61)*** III/IV 227 0Á51 (0Á41-0Á60)*** 0Á55 (0Á46-0Á64)*** 0Á52 (0Á41-0Á61)*** Region Capital 187 0Á49 (0Á38-0Á60)*** 0Á55 (0Á44-0Á64)*** 0Á55 (0Á44-0Á64)*** Zealand 103 0Á72 (0Á61-0Á80)*** 0Á72 (0Á62-0Á81)*** 0Á70 (0Á58-0Á78)*** Northern Jutland 68 0Á49 (0Á28-0Á65)*** 0Á53 (0Á33-0Á68)*** 0Á59 (0Á41-0Á73)*** Central Jutland 167 0Á50 (0Á37-0Á60)*** 0Á47 (0Á34-0Á58)*** 0Á48 (0Á35-0Á59)*** Southern Denmark 139 0Á47 (0Á33-0Á59)*** 0Á49 (0Á35-0Á61)*** 0Á43 (0Á29-0Á56)*** Education Primary school 117 0Á54 (0Á40-0Á66)*** 0Á61 (0Á49-0Á71)*** 0Á52 (0Á37-0Á64)*** Secondary school 90 0Á48 (0Á30-0Á62)*** 0Á41 (0Á22-0Á57)*** 0Á39 (0Á20-0Á55)*** Vocational 91 0Á52 (0Á36-0Á66)*** 0Á63 (0Á48-0Á78)*** 0Á56 (0Á40-0Á69)*** Higher education (< 2 years) 67 0Á32 (0Á08-0Á52)** 0Á37 (0Á14-0Á56)** 0Á37 (0Á14-0Á56)** Higher education (2-4½ years) 213 0Á52 (0Á41-0Á61)*** 0Á51 (0Á41-0Á61)*** 0Á54 (0Á44-0Á63)*** Higher education (> 4½ years) 80 0Á65 (0Á51-0Á76)*** 0Á60 (0Á43-0Á72)*** 0Á63 (0Á48-0Á75)*** Season Pre (weeks [19][20][21][22][23][24] 238 0Á47 (0Á36-0Á56)*** 0Á50 (0Á39-0Á59)*** 0Á42 (0Á30-0Á52)*** Mid (weeks [25][26][27][28][29][30] 246 0Á59 (0Á50-0Á66)*** 0Á59 (0Á50-0Á67)*** 0Á58 (0Á49-0Á65)*** Post (weeks [31][32][33][34][35] 180 0Á45 (0Á33-0Á56)*** 0Á47 (0Á35-0Á57)*** 0Á49 (0Á37-0Á59)*** Own or family-related melanoma Yes 147 0Á46 (0Á32-0Á58)*** 0Á43 (0Á29-0Á56)*** 0Á41 (0Á27-0Á54)*** No 517 0Á55 (0Á49-0Á61)*** 0Á57 (0Á50-0Á62)*** 0Á56 (0Á50-0Á62)*** Weather 1 (Most of the time sunny) 191 0Á55 (0Á44-0Á64)*** 0Á53 (0Á42-0Á63)*** 0Á51 (0Á40-0Á61)*** 2 176 0Á41 (0Á28-0Á53)*** 0Á44 (0Á31-0Á55)*** 0Á35 (0Á22-0Á48)*** 3 152 0Á41 (0Á27-0Á53)*** 0Á38 (0Á24-0Á51)*** 0Á43 (0Á29-0Á55)*** 4 8 3 0 Á46 (0Á27-0Á62)*** 0Á42 (0Á23-0Á59)*** 0Á37 (0Á16-0Á54)*** 5 (Most of the time cloudy) 61 0Á22 (À0Á04 to 0Á44) 0Á37 (0Á14-0Á57)** 0Á27 (0Á02-0Á49)* Spearman correlation coefficients are reported with 95% confidence intervals. Significance levels: *P < 0Á05, **P < 0Á01, ***P < 0Á001.…”

Novel approach to analysing large data sets of personal sun exposure measurements

“…Volunteers included South African schoolchildren, teachers, sailors, cyclists, marathon runners, farm workers, and gardeners, and New Zealand construction workers. The UVR dosimeter badges were developed at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, to measure personal exposure to solar erythemal UVR (290-400nm) and have been described in detail elsewhere (22,26). Briefly, the main component of the dosimeter badge is a miniature, aluminium gallium nitride (AlGaN) photodetector with an engineered spectral response that closely matches the CIE erythemal action spectrum.…”

“…When recording intervals are set for frequent data measurement, and when individuals wear the UVR dosimeter for a prolonged period of time (several days, weeks or months), measurements result in a large dataset that requires intense processing, analysis and interpretation (13,26).…”

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

“…In New Zealand (Wright et al 2007) mean total daily exposure from late spring to early autumn was 4.9% of the ambient UVER.…”