UV-Radiation: From Physics to Impacts

Abstract

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation has affected life at least since the first life forms moved out of the seas and crawled onto the land. Therefore, one might assume that evolution has adapted to natural UV radiation. However, evolution is mostly concerned with the propagation of the genetic code, not with a long, happy, and fulfilling life. Because rickets is bad for a woman giving birth, the beneficial effects of UV-radiation outweigh the adverse effects like aged skin and skin tumors of various grades of malignancy that usually only afflict us at older age. Anthropogenic damage to the stratospheric ozone layer and frighteningly high rates of melanoma skin cancer in the light-skinned descendants of British settlers in Australia piqued interest in the health impacts of UV radiation. A changing cultural perception of the beauty of tanned versus light skin and commercial interests in selling UV-emitting devices such as tanning booths caught public health experts off-guard. Counseling and health communication are extremely difficult when dealing with a “natural” risk factor, especially when this risk factor cannot (and should not) be completely avoided. How much is too much for whom or for which skin type? How even measure “much”? Is it the (cumulative) dose or the dose rate that matters most? Or should we even construct a more complex metric such as the cumulative dose above a certain dose rate threshold? We find there are still many open questions, and we are glad that this special issue offered us the opportunity to present many interesting aspects of this important topic.

Solar UV Irradiance in a Changing Climate: Trends in Europe and the Significance of Spectral Monitoring in Italy

“…Despite the small amount of UV radiation that finally reaches the Earth's surface, its biological significance is exceptional [2]. UV radiation triggers and/or drives photochemical and photobiological processes, which are necessary for the proper functioning of ecosystems, and has strong direct or indirect effects on human health [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]. Living organisms have slowly adapted to the current levels of solar UV radiation through the evolution process and fast or abrupt changes impact the health and the diversity of flora and fauna [4].…”

Solar UV Irradiance in a Changing Climate: Trends in Europe and the Significance of Spectral Monitoring in Italy

“…Despite the small amount of UV radiation that finally reaches the Earth's surface, its biological significance is exceptional [2]. UV radiation triggers and/or drives photochemical and photobiological processes which are necessary for the proper functioning of ecosystems, and in many cases has strong direct or indirect effects on human health [3][4][5][6]. Excessive exposure of ecosystems to UV radiation may have negative effects [7][8][9][10][11][12].…”

Österreichischer Special Report Gesundheit, Demographie und Klimawandel - Supplement

“…Die Hintergründe sind noch nicht vollständig geklärt, mög licherweise liegen diese aber in einer besseren Vitamin D-Versorgung in größeren Höhenlagen. Diese Arbeit erregte so viel Interesse, dass der Verlag eine eigene Sondernummer zum Thema "UV-Radiation: From Physics to Impacts" herausgab(Moshammer, Simic, & Haluza, 2017). Die von verschiedenen Arbeitsgruppen weltweit in dieser Sondernummer veröffentlichten Arbeiten können zur Lektüre empfohlen werden, wenn am Thema Interesse besteht.…”