Sensitivity of erythemally effective UV irradiance and daily exposure to temporal variability in total ozone

UV-Biometer - The usage of erythemal weighted broadband meters for other biological effects

In this paper, we pick up the idea of the "UV-Biometer": the use of erythemal weighted broadband meters for other photobiological endpoints. Therefore, nine different types of broadband meters were considered. A necessity for their calibration is the availability of an action spectrum for the respective effect over the complete solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation range. Unfortunately, such action spectra are rather rare. Here we used the action spectra for non-melanoma skin cancer, DNA-damage, clearing of psoriasis, ICNIRP's workers protection and persistent pigmentation. The action spectrum for vitamin D photosynthesis is taken to estimate the effect of missing effectiveness values in the UV-A range. Application shows that high uncertainties occur especially at low solar elevations. Calibration factors in dependence of total ozone and solar elevation were calculated for all broadband meters and all effects. Analysis shows, that not all of these effects are as appropriate as erythema. The calibration for all effects was applied for a broadband meter that measures the UV-Index operationally within the Austrian UV-Index network. As most of these action spectra have threshold limit values or minimum dose equivalents, irradiance was converted into threshold exposure times. Uncertainties from total ozone during routine operation are estimated. Additionally, we derived conversion factors for erythemally effective irradiance to these effective irradiances. This delivers an easy way to gain biologically effective irradiance without the need of knowing the properties of the instrument. However, this introduces additional uncertainties and not all conversions should be applied.

Review on Occupational Personal Solar UV Exposure Measurements

During leisure time, people can decide if they want to expose themselves to solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation and to what extent. While working, people do not have this choice. Outdoor workers are exposed to solar UV radiation (UVR) on a daily basis. This may pose a certain health risk, which can be estimated when the personal solar UVR exposure (PE) is known. During past decades, a variety of studies were conducted to measure PE of outdoor workers and our knowledge of the PE of outdoor workers has increased remarkably. As shown by this review, studies clearly indicate that PE of most outdoor workers exceeds the internationally proposed threshold limit value, which is comparable to 1.0 to 1.3 standard erythema dose (SED), respectively, to 1.1 to 1.5 UV Index received over one hour. Besides working in a high UVR environ, monotonic workflow (limited movement, nearly static posture) is a risk factor. In such cases, PE can be higher than ambient UVR. In this review, we provide also a list of milestones, depicting the progress and the most important findings in this field during the past 45 years. However, in many respects our knowledge is still rudimentary, for several reasons. Different measuring positions have been used so that measured PE is not comparable. Few studies were designed to enable the extension of measured PE to other locations or dates. Although the importance of a proper calibration of the measuring devices in respect to the changing solar spectrum was pointed out from the beginning, this is often not performed, which leads to high uncertainties in the presented PE levels. At the end of our review, we provide some key points, which can be used to evaluate the quality of a study respectively to support the design of future studies.

[Satellite data for recording health-relevant environmental conditions: examples and interdisciplinary potential]

Environmental conditions influence human health and interact with other factors such as DNA, lifestyle, or the social environment. Earth observations from space provide data on the most diverse manifestations of these environmental conditions and make it possible to quantify them spatially. Using two examples - the availability of open and recreational space and the spatial distribution of air pollution - this article presents the potential of Earth observations for health studies. In addition, possible applications for health-related issues are discussed. To this end, we try to outline key points for an interdisciplinary approach that meets the conceptual, data technology, and ethical challenges.

Teledermatology: from prevention to diagnosis of nonmelanoma and melanoma skin cancer

Telemedicine is a rapidly developing application of clinical medicine where medical information is transferred through interactive audiovisual media for the purpose of consulting remote medical procedures or examinations, reducing the time of consultation for patients. Teledermatology as an application of telemedicine was developed in 1995: it turns out to be a gradually more ordinary mean of delivering dermatologic healthcare worldwide and will almost certainly have a greater medical function in the future. In particular, teledermatology can aid in the prevention and diagnosis of nonmelanoma and melanoma skin cancer; telemedicine and teledermatology offer the opportunity to make available consultations with experts also by long distance. Overall, patients seem to accept teledermatology, considering it as an excellent mean to obtain healthcare, particularly in those areas with no expert dermatologists available. Clinicians have also generally reported affirmative experiences with teledermatology in the skin cancer field. Further studies focusing on cost effectiveness, patient outcomes, and patient and clinician satisfaction will facilitate to delineate the potential of teledermatology as a mean of prevention and diagnosis of nonmelanoma and melanoma skin cancer.