Ocular and dermatologic health effects of ultraviolet radiation exposure from the ozone hole in southern Chile.
OBJECTIVE
This study sought to investigate numerous reports emanating from Punta Arenas, Chile (population 110,000, latitude 53 degrees S), that associated acute ocular and dermatologic disease in humans and animals with excess ultraviolet-B (UV-B) exposure in the setting of the thinning of the ozone column.


METHODS
Ophthalmologic and dermatologic records in Punta Arenas were systematically reviewed to enumerate sentinel diagnoses potentially associated with UV-B exposure, ocular examinations on representative animal populations were performed, and the ambient UV-B exposure in the region during the time of maximal thinning was estimated.


RESULTS
No increase in patient visits or conditions attributable to UV-B exposure was seen for periods of known ozone depletion compared with control periods. Although ambient UV-B exposure was 1.6 to 2.3 times the habitual exposure on individual days, this excess exposure conferred only a 1% increase in annual exposure on the region.


CONCLUSIONS
This study does not support existing lay reports of ocular and dermatologic disease in humans and animals that had been associated with the ozone hole over southern Chile.
Schein
O D
OD
Dana Center for Preventive Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Baltimore, Md., USA.
Vicencio
C
C
Muñoz
B
B
Gelatt
K N
KN
Duncan
D D
DD
Nethercott
J
J
Honeyman
J
J
Koren
H S
HS
West
S
S
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D002677:Chile; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005123:Eye / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D006801:Humans; D010126:Ozone; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000662:veterinary; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D012867:Skin / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*
D010126:Ozone