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UV Monitoring for Public Health

Author

Listed:
  • Mario Blumthaler

    (Medical University Innsbruck, Division for Biomedical Physics, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

Abstract

Overexposure to solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a risk for public health. Therefore, it is important to provide information to the public about the level of solar UV. The UV-Index (UVI) is the relevant quantity, expressing the erythemally weighted irradiance to a horizontal plane on a simple scale. As solar UV irradiance is strongly variable in time and space, measurements within a network provide the best source of information, provided they can be made available rapidly. However, to ensure the information is reliable, strict quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) procedures for the monitoring networks are necessary. Near real time presentation of the measured UVI on web-pages is the best way to inform the public. The interpretation of the data in terms of the individual ‘allowable’ exposure time is heavily impacted by skin type, behavior, and clothing, and must be learned for each person through experience and guidance. Nonetheless, reliable knowledge of the actual level of the intensity of erythemally weighted irradiance and its variability forms the basis of education and public awareness. The challenges and requirements in providing comprehensive UVI data for public health guidance are here considered.

Suggested Citation

  • Mario Blumthaler, 2018. "UV Monitoring for Public Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-10, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:8:p:1723-:d:163199
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Joji Abraham & Christopher Turville & Kim Dowling & Singarayer Florentine, 2021. "Does Climate Play Any Role in COVID-19 Spreading?—An Australian Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-14, August.
    2. Forrest M. Mims & Andrew J. S. McGonigle & Thomas C. Wilkes & Alfio V. Parisi & William B. Grant & Joseph M. Cook & Tom D. Pering, 2019. "Measuring and Visualizing Solar UV for a Wide Range of Atmospheric Conditions on Hawai’i Island," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-24, March.
    3. Katharina Diehl & Tatiana Görig & Charlotte Jansen & Maike Carola Hruby & Annette B. Pfahlberg & Olaf Gefeller, 2021. "“I’ve Heard of It, Yes, but I Can’t Remember What Exactly It Was”—A Qualitative Study on Awareness, Knowledge, and Use of the UV Index," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-10, February.
    4. Simone Pettigrew & Ashleigh Parnell & Mark Strickland & Rachel Neale & Robyn Lucas, 2020. "The Potential of Ultraviolet Radiation Meters in Secondary Schools as a Sun Protection Intervention Mechanism for Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-13, February.

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