title: Human exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation.
abstract: Solar ultraviolet (UV) irradiation depends upon the local UV climate, people's behaviour. Behaviour includes the time spent outdoors and the use of photoprotective agents. In adult life, a British indoor worker in the UK might typically receive 30% of his or her annual UV exposure from sun-seeking holidays, 40% from summer weekends, 20% from casual weekday exposure between April and September and just 10% from sun exposure during the 6 month period October to March. Whilst climatic factors do influence levels of UV radiation (UVR) at the Earth's surface, it is people's behaviour out of doors that has a much greater impact on personal solar UV irradiation. Methods of personal protection include: avoiding direct sunlight in summer around noon; seeking the shade; wearing clothing absorbs UVR; wearing hats that shade face and neck; and using topical sunscreens.
authors.affiliation: Regional Medical Physics Department, Newcastle General Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. b.l.diffey@ncl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Brian L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Diffey
mesh_terms: D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D013473:Sunscreening Agents; D013997:Time Factors; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D013473:Sunscreening Agents