Personal ultraviolet Radiation exposure in a cohort of Chinese mother and child pairs: the Chinese families and children study

Abstract

Background Few studies in China have examined personal ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure using polysulfone dosimetry. Methods In this study, 93 mother and adolescent child pairs ( N = 186) from two locations in China, one rural (higher latitude) and one urban (lower latitude), completed 3 days of personal UVR dosimetry and a sun/clothing diary, as part of a larger pilot study. Results The average daily ambient UVR in each location as measured by dosimetry was 20.24 Minimal Erythemal Doses (MED) in the rural location and 20.53 MED in the urban location. Rural mothers had more average daily time outdoors than urban mothers (5.5 h, compared with 1.5 h, in urban mothers) and a much higher daily average personal UVR exposure (4.50 MED, compared with 0.78 MED in urban mothers). Amongst adolescents, rural males had the highest average daily personal UVR exposure, followed by rural females, urban females and urban males (average 2.16, 1.05, 0.81, and 0.48 MED, respectively). Conclusions Although based on small numbers, our findings show the importance of geographic location, age, work/school responsibilities, and sex of the adolescents in determining personal UVR exposure in China. These results suggest that latitude of residence may not be a good proxy for personal UVR exposure in all circumstances.

Physical Activity, Step Counts, and Grip Strength in the Chinese Children and Families Cohort Study

“…Such detailed analyses of urban and rural differences and inclusion of cross-generational comparisons are important because of rapid increases in sedentary behavior, obesity, diabetes, and urban–rural disparities in China [ 41 ]. The results reported here and in related papers concerning UVR exposure, diet and other variables [ 29 , 30 , 31 ] also provide valuable guidance both for a potential follow up to the 1993–1995 Community Intervention Program (CIP) and for PA measurement in other cohort studies in China. Additionally, high response rates and largely complete data reflect the investment on standardized training of interviewers and ongoing data quality monitoring during data collection.…”

“…Two urban male offspring were missing step counts. Further details concerning these dyads are available [ 30 , 31 ]. Briefly, over all respondents, mean age of mothers was 38.7 (Range 35–54) and offspring 15.1 (Range 14–17) years.…”

“…In the second phase of this work, methods were developed and tested for a multiday assessment of diet, physical activity, UVR exposure, and other measures potentially related to health outcomes stemming from early life exposures to folic acid and to the development of cancer later in life. Previous papers have described the overall design of phases 1 and 2 of the Chinese CFCS [ 29 , 30 ] and UVR exposure methods and results [ 31 ]. In the present study we report on the feasibility of measurements and results for physical activity and strength.…”

“…Physical activity data collection, the subject of this paper, included handgrip dynamometry, pedometry, and a past year PAQ developed for this study. Further cancer and energy balance related variables explored in this study included: (1) UVR exposure data based on a diary and dosimetry [ 31 ] and (2) dietary data from a food frequency questionnaire and 3-day food record [ 29 , 30 ].…”

Global burden and prediction study of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma from 1990 to 2030: A systematic analysis and comparison with China

“…Meanwhile, a study of 623 individuals from northern China found differences between men and women in their knowledge, awareness, and behaviour towards sun protection, where the women scored significantly higher in these areas ( P = 0.0001), while 16.4% of men reported not using sun protection methods [ 19 ]. In line with this, a survey of 5964 individuals in Shanghai found that over 70% of men did not wear hats or long pants and long-sleeved shirts to avoid the sun, 88% never used umbrellas, and 97% never used sunscreen [ 27 , 28 ], while Kimlin et al [ 29 ] found that men in China experience notably greater UV exposure due to extensive outdoor activities and little sun protection.…”