Patterns in the Received Facial UV Exposure of School Children Measured at a Subtropical Latitude

Abstract

Polysulfone (PS) dosimeters have been employed to measure the erythemally effective UV exposure to the vertex, nose, cheek, chin and side facial sites of 45 volunteer high school students from Hervey Bay, Australia (25.3°S 152.9°E). The results of a series of 1 h outdoor sport trials (basketball and soccer) found the mean student facial exposure, determined as the arithmetic average of facial site exposures of unprotected students (no hat) to protected students (hat), varied from 140 ± 82 J m−2 (1σ) to 99 ± 33 J m−2 (1σ), respectively. All hourly student facial exposures recorded over the study period were found to exceed the National Health and Medical Research Council’s adopted safe daily limit of 30 J m−2. Facial exposure relative to the received ambient UV increased to the nose at higher (winter) solar zenith angles (SZAs) compared with lower (summer) SZA ranges for both protected and unprotected students. The protection offered by the broad‐brimmed hats was reduced significantly to the lower chin facial site at the higher SZA range, indicating that the style of hat used offers best protection in summer to the upper facial regions at most risk of receiving a high exposure when no hat protection is used. Variations to specific student facial exposure sites were measured between both basketball and soccer players. Variation in student facial exposure was further examined with respect to cloud cover and comparisons to manikin headform measurements were also made. The study results indicate that hats alone are not adequate forms of sun protection in a school environment. Schools aiming to achieve acceptable safe limits of facial exposure may need to further consider the effectiveness of hat protection with increasing SZA, cloud cover and head position relative to the sun that is specific to the scheduled outdoor activity.

Schoolyard Shade and Sun Exposure: Assessment of Personal Monitoring During Children's Physical Activity

“…Thus, the impact of sun protective behavior and changes in the built environment have been thoroughly investigated in the literature ( e.g . ). The current study demonstrated the effectiveness of an artificial shade sail in a playground, which effectively filtered out 91% of UVB 280–315 nm radiation, and reduced the SED by 60%.…”

“…Given the potential of personal sensors to provide estimates of more representative exposures in children's populations ( e.g . ), as well as the known influence of environmental design on exposures , we assessed how stationary in situ playground UV Ery data relate to personalized UV Ery exposures of 14 children (the “human scale” of observation), with 10 subjects wearing dosimeters on each day. The 10 subjects were not present on all days, and within a day, some subjects were removed from one activity due to not feeling well, being picked up early by parents, or bathroom breaks.…”

“…As many children attend schools and play outside mid‐day when the sun intensity is highest, their outdoor playground environments (created largely for promoting physical activity and creativity) may be a powerful determinant in the risk of receiving acute and long‐term damage associated with UV exposure . Thus, the impact of sun protective behavior and changes in the built environment have been thoroughly investigated in the literature ( e.g .…”

“…Personal exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) as a function of activity has been investigated in many studies, largely in the adult population . Further studies examining personal exposures in youth or children's populations have been completed by Downs and Parisi and Pagels et al . .…”

An Observational Study of Sun-Protective Behaviour at an Outdoor Spectator Sporting Event in a Region of High Sun Exposure

“…Polysulfone dosimeters were used to measure the erythemally effective UV exposure to facial sites of 45 unprotected high school students (no hat) and protected students (hat), in Hervey Bay, Australia (latitude 25.3ºS). All hourly facial exposures exceeded the National Health and Medical Research Council's adopted safe daily limit of 30 J m (-2), even for those wearing hats [25].…”