Quantification of personal solar UV exposure of outdoor workers, indoor workers and adolescents at two locations in Southeast Queensland

Abstract

Quantification of human exposure to solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation at two locations was performed to study the effect of occupation (outdoor workers, schoolchildren and home workers) and location on personal UV exposure. The study took place on 13 and 14 February 1997 in Toowoomba (27.5 degrees S, 151.9 degrees E) and Brisbane (27.4 degrees S, 153.1 degrees E) in Southeast Queensland, Australia. From the data collected by calibrated ambient UV monitoring stations located in Toowoomba and Brisbane, Toowoomba received 16% more UVB (280-320 nm) than Brisbane from 07:00 to 17:00 Australian Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the 13 February, 1997 and 10% more UVB on the 14 February 1997. All groups, regardless of occupation, in this study received a median erythemal UV exposure of over 2 MED on the shoulder over the 2 day period. The highest median erythemal UV exposure to the shoulder over the 2 day period was 6 MED in Toowoomba outdoor workers. The median 2 day erythemal exposure to the shoulder was 33% higher in Toowoomba than in Brisbane for the outdoor workers, 50% higher in Toowoomba compared to Brisbane for the schoolchildren and 25% higher in Toowoomba than Brisbane for the home workers.

Lower body anatomical distribution of solar ultraviolet radiation on the human form in standing and sitting postures

“…These are in excess of occupational exposure limits for UV exposure [19]. The erythemal UV exposures to different population groups have been previously measured at this location by other researchers [3]. The median of the daily erythemal UV exposures to the shoulder for outdoor workers, school children and home workers during normal daily activities were 3.0, 1.5 and 1.2 MED.…”

“…The solar UV exposures to selected human anatomical sites, for example the wrist and shoulder during normal daily activities has been measured using personal UV dosimeters [1][2][3][4][5]. Additionally, previous researchers have employed polysulphone dosimeters to determine the distribution of solar erythemal UV exposure to the human body in predominantly upright positions (for example, [4,6]).…”

Outdoor Workers and Sun Protection: Knowledge and Behaviour

“…Some studies were found that addressed outdoor workers in Australia (Dobbinson and Knight, 2001;Parisi et al, 1999;Kimlin et al, 1998;Airey et al, 1997;Green et al, 1996;Wong et al, 1996;Girgis et al, 1994;Borland et al, 1991). These studies were carried out mostly in Queensland, with two in Victoria and another in NSW.…”

“…Outdoor workers who participated included farmers, Telecom lines staff, and tradespersons. The focus of five of these studies was exposure to UVR (Parisi et al, 1999;Kimlin et al, 1998;Airey et al, 1997;Green et al 1996;Wong et al, 1996) with the remaining studies focusing on the effects of an interventions on outdoor workers' sun protective behaviour (Girgis et al, 1994;Borland et al, 1991) and organisational change (Dobbinson and Knight, 2001). No study was found that had surveyed outdoor workers in NSW to assess their knowledge and sun protective behaviour associated with their risk of skin cancer.…”

An estimation of biological hazards due to solar radiation

“…Measurement surveys of the personal exposures have been performed with polysulphone dosimeters [6][7][8][9] and CR-39 dosimeters [10]. These dosimeters were calibrated to measure personal erythemal exposures resulting predominantly from the UVB (280-320 nm) waveband.…”