title: Weekend personal ultraviolet radiation exposure in four cities in Australia: influence of temperature, humidity and ambient ultraviolet radiation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effects of meteorological factors on weekend sun exposure behaviours and personal received dose of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in Australian adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Australian adults (n=1002) living in Townsville (19°S, 146°E), Brisbane (27°S, 153°E), Canberra (35°S, 149°E) and Hobart (43°S, 147°E) were recruited between 2009 and 2010. Data on sun exposure behaviours were collected by daily sun exposure dairies; personal UVR exposure was measured with a polysulphone dosimeter. Meteorological data were obtained from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology; ambient UVR levels were estimated using the Ozone Monitoring Instrument data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher daily maximum temperatures were associated with reduced likelihood of wearing a long-sleeved shirt or wearing long trousers in Canberra and Hobart, and higher clothing-adjusted UVR dose in Canberra. Higher daily humidity was associated with less time spent outdoors in Canberra. Higher ambient UVR level was related to a greater clothing-adjusted personal UVR dose in Hobart and a greater likelihood of using sunscreen in Townsville.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current findings enhance our understanding of the impact of weather conditions on the population's sun exposure behaviours. This information will allow us to refine current predictive models for UVR-related diseases, and guide future health service and health promotion needs.
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia. Electronic address: fan.xiang@anu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Fan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Tropical Medicine and Rehabilitation Sciences, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia; School of Public Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Tropical Medicine and Rehabilitation Sciences, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia; School of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia.
authors.forename: Madeleine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nowak
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kimlin
authors.affiliation: Menzies Research Institute Tasmania, Hobart, Australia.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Van der Mei
authors.affiliation: Queensland Berghofer Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Rachel E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Neale
authors.affiliation: Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sinclair
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia; Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
authors.forename: Robyn M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Lucas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D002947:Cities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D013696:Temperature; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays