title: [Motor vehicles and ultraviolet exposure in Mexico].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sun exposure can cause both acute and chronic lesions of the skin due to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. While driving or traveling inside a vehicle, a person is exposed to this radiation, which can induce or exacerbate certain dermatoses.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine if the window glasses of commercial vehicles in Mexico can block UV transmission or if the addition of tinted films is necessary.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty models of vehicles manufactured between 1998 and 2011 were randomly selected. UVA and UVB were measured through the windshield and lateral window glasses, and their transmission was calculated compared to ambient UV radiation. Four commercial tinted films were also evaluated for UV transmission.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average UVB transmission from the windshield was 0.01% and 0.9% for UVA. For the driver's and front seat's glasses, UVB transmission was 2% and 16% for UVA. Tinted films transmitted less than 4.5% of UVA, and almost 0% of UVB.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Driving with the vehicle's windows closed eliminates 98% of UVB and 84% of UVA. Therefore, the addition of tinted films provides a marginal benefit in most clinical conditions that manifest photosensibility.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Dermatología, Hospital Central Dr. Ignacio Morones Prieto, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí.
authors.forename: Juan Pablo
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Castanedo-Cazares
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ehnis-Pérez
authors.forename: Madelein
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zúñiga-Yudiche
authors.forename: Bertha
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Torres-Alvarez
mesh_terms: D001336:Automobiles; D003116:Color; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004867:Equipment Design; D005898:Glass; D006801:Humans; D008800:Mexico; D010969:Plastics; D011482:Protective Devices; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D013472:Sunlight; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics