Personnel monitoring of exposure to ultraviolet radiation

Abstract

Summary A cheap, simple badge for personnel UVR exposure monitoring has been developed; it is based on measuring the optical absorbance of a polysulphone film. This has been successfully used to demonstrate quantitative differences in UVR exposure of groups of people in different environments.

Sunlight and dietary contributions to the seasonal vitamin D status of cohorts of healthy postmenopausal women living at northerly latitudes: a major cause for concern?

“…The Aberdeen study allowed up to 20% of the sample population to be taking cod liver oil as this is a commonly used supplement, but other supplements containing vitamin D were excluded. Women were seen over 15 . Caucasians (<70 years) for the Surrey centre (51°N) were randomly sampled from local GP surgeries in Surrey.…”

“…Absorption pre-and post-wearing was measured at 330 nm using a spectrophotometer (Perkin Elmer UV/VIS Lambda 2 Spectrophotometer). Standard erythema dose (SED) was calculated as SED = 10.7 (ΔA330) + 14.3 (ΔA330) 2 − 26.4 (ΔA330) 3 + 89.1 (ΔA330) 4 where ΔA330 was the difference in readings at 330 nm before and after use [14,15]. For each subject, two badges were worn per week and the two measurements added together to give weekly SED exposure.…”

Lifetime ultraviolet exposure estimates for selected population groups in south-east Queensland

“…Human exposure to ultraviolet radiation has been previously measured over relatively short periods using polysulphone dosimeters in a variety of environmental settings for both occupational and recreational activities (Diffey et al, 1996, Rosenthal et al, 1988, 1990, Leach et al, 1978, Melville et al, 1991, Challoner et al, 1976, Gies et al, 1995, 1998, Holman et al, 1983, Kimlin et al, 1998a, 1998b, Herlihy et al, 1994. Diffey (1992) has used a model proposed by Rosenthal et al (1991) for estimating longterm exposures based on published data obtained in the United Kingdom.…”

Ambient Solar UVR, Personal Exposure and Protection

“…Polysulphone (PS) film has been employed as a dosimeter of solar UVR in personal exposure studies since 1976 [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18]. The dose response of PS film has been characterised with simultaneous solar spectral measurements and PS exposures 12) and a number of such studies in conjunction with other research organizations 12.13,15.16) have been undertaken.…”