UV Monitoring for Public Health

Abstract

Overexposure to solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a risk for public health. Therefore, it is important to provide information to the public about the level of solar UV. The UV-Index (UVI) is the relevant quantity, expressing the erythemally weighted irradiance to a horizontal plane on a simple scale. As solar UV irradiance is strongly variable in time and space, measurements within a network provide the best source of information, provided they can be made available rapidly. However, to ensure the information is reliable, strict quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) procedures for the monitoring networks are necessary. Near real time presentation of the measured UVI on web-pages is the best way to inform the public. The interpretation of the data in terms of the individual ‘allowable’ exposure time is heavily impacted by skin type, behavior, and clothing, and must be learned for each person through experience and guidance. Nonetheless, reliable knowledge of the actual level of the intensity of erythemally weighted irradiance and its variability forms the basis of education and public awareness. The challenges and requirements in providing comprehensive UVI data for public health guidance are here considered.

Single Scattering Albedo’s Spectral Dependence Effect on UV Irradiance

“…Several factors related to human health are actively related to the UV irradiance estimation, such as DNA damage, Vitamin D Effective Dose and the UV index (erythema) for human exposure to the sun for numerous vulnerable population groups (e.g., pregnant women, light-colored skins, etc., as described by the World Health Organization) [40]. These variables are monitored in few countries through surface networks [41][42][43] but have greater value when forecasted through RTM and are available to the general public [44]. Due to the lack of sources for SSA in the UV region, it is a common practice when estimating UV or forecasting health-related variables such as the UV index, to transfer SSA values from available visible wavelengths to UV wavelengths in radiative transfer calculations, or just use climatological values [34].…”

Assessment of Biologically Effective Solar Ultraviolet Exposures for Court Staff and Competitors During a Major Australian Tennis Tournament

“…As such, attendance at the tournament renders the officials, competitors and spectators prone to high-temperature conditions coupled with the potential for overexposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) due to the often very high to extreme ultraviolet index (UVI) recorded during competition times (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6). There is an opportunity for these kinds of events to highlight and rolemodel sun safety messages via the activities of all participants, an aspect that has been explored by several authors (1,4,(7)(8)(9).…”

“…Approximately two in every three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer before the age of 70 (4,14). Both long-term chronic and short-term and intermittent intensive exposure to UVR are primarily responsible for the development of non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC) and melanoma in the Australian population (2,3,8,9,(14)(15)(16). Additionally, repeated suberythemal UVR doses can cause cumulative mutational damage (6,(17)(18)(19).…”

“…Additionally, repeated suberythemal UVR doses can cause cumulative mutational damage (6,(17)(18)(19). UVR overexposure can also lead to eye conditions, such as cataracts and pterygium (9,19). Research also suggests that significant UVR exposure occurs in a person's younger years, before adulthood, which often leads to long-term negative health effects (1)(2)(3)8,20,21).…”

IoT System for Ultraviolet Ray Index Monitoring

“…Knowledge of such information can be useful in order for the user to have a deep understanding of their surroundings. For instance, overexposure to solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a risk for public health particularly for outdoor construction workers because of the typical detrimental effects such as sun burning, long-term risk of skin cancer, and eye diseases [9].…”