Ultraviolet Reflection Irradiances and Exposures in The Constructed Environment For Horizontal, Vertical and Inclined Surfaces

Abstract

Ultraviolet (UV) reflection in the urban constructed environment is not well understood for topical issues such as measuring and modeling the received UV exposure due to that UV reflection for outdoor workers. Both predominantly specular and diffuse reflecting surface types have been identified and investigated for the erythemal UV reflection ratio variation due to solar zenith angle and orientation. This paper presents relationships between erythemal UV reflection ratios measured for non-horizontal and horizontal surfaces, with predominantly specular surface types indicating stronger relationships with solar zenith angles than diffuse reflecting surfaces types. Erythemal UV exposures caused by the same reflecting surface types at three inclinations are also investigated. Non-horizontal surfaces can increase erythemal UV exposures compared to erythemal UV exposures received from the same horizontal surface by factors of 1.07-1.46 for specific body sites and by 1.01-1.70 for averages of group body sites for zinc aluminium coated steel sheeting.

The enhancement of biological ocular UV radiation on beaches compared to the radiation on grass

“…Turner et al [14,15] indicated that high albedo of either the horizontal or vertical zinc aluminum trapezoidal sheeting could enhance the erythemal effect. Sliney et al [16] noted that terrain reflectance was much more important than solar elevations; and that daily UV exposure on the snow surface exceeds the ICNIRP guidelines (ICNIRP 2004) [17].…”

Influence of reflected UV irradiance on occupational exposure from combinations of reflective wall surfaces

“…Previous published studies have shown that time of day and season are important to the reflective capacity of the surface types investigated. 22,23 The atmospheric conditions for the wall data as reported in Turner and Parisi 21 was clear with low to no clouds. The ozone was 255-259 DU (zinc aluminium) and 252-275 DU ( pale green) as provided by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Ozone Monitoring Instrument.…”

“…As reflective capacity of the surfaces used has been found to be variable 23 due to solar zenith angle and season, the data were analysed differently to that in the earlier study. 21 Correlating the time of day and dosimeter position, the influenced erythemal UV exposure due to surface type and construction type were compared to control erythemal UV exposure for the same time of day and dosimeter position.…”

“…2 and 3 when considering the influence of a wall or corner and this is confirmed through statistical significance (Table 1), with the statistical significance increasing when focusing on facial sites that are more influenced by the surrounding surfaces. Previous work on understanding UV reflection from non-horizontal surfaces 22,23 suggests that pale green ( paint) coated steel surfaces reflect UV radiation differently to zinc aluminium coated steel surfaces. This is likely due to more diffuse reflection occurring rather than specular reflection, where the angle of reflected irradiance does not depend on incident irradiance, as a result of the paint molecules causing the effect of backscatter to incident UV radiation.…”

Maximum Incident Erythemally EffectiveUVExposure Received by Construction Workers, in Valencia, Spain

“…The main difference between our study and others is the fact that, in our methodology, a static mannequin has been used, despite the fact that in other minor studies this technique has been also used . As a result, we have reached values of dose that can be considered as upper limits of dose that an outdoor worker could receive while working.…”