Personal UVR exposure of farming families in four European countries.
BACKGROUND
The main risk factor for skin cancer is ultraviolet radiation (UVR). Farming families living in rural areas with easy outdoor access may experience excessive UVR exposure. Differences between countries in latitude, altitude and sun behaviour could result in different personal UVR exposures. However, no studies have examined this until now.


OBJECTIVE
To determine personal UVR exposure in work and leisure situations among farming families in Europe.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study of farmers, their partners (spouses) and children in Denmark (DK), Poland (PL), Austria (AT), and Spain (ES) from 2009 to 2011. Personal UVR exposure and sun behaviour were recorded by dosimetry and diaries.


RESULTS
Farmers' average daily UVR exposure on working days ranged from 1.4 SED (DK, AT) to 2.7 SED (ES). Corresponding figures for partners were: 0.6 SED (DK) to 1.9 SED (PL), and for children (day-care/school days): 0.7 SED (ES) to 1.3 SED (PL).


CONCLUSIONS
Farmers' UVR exposure was comparable to that of outdoor workers in previous studies and exceeded the recommended UVR exposure limits on 36% (DK, AT), 29% (PL) and 56% (ES) of their working days. Attention to sun protection for outdoor workers across Europe in preventing UVR-induced skin cancer is still needed.
Department of Dermatology, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: mettebodek@hotmail.com.
M
M
Bodekær
King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
G I
GI
Harrison
Department of Dermatology, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
P
P
Philipsen
Department of Dermatology, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
B
B
Petersen
Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain.
M
M
Triguero-Mas
University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
A W
AW
Schmalwieser
Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
M
M
Rogowski-Tylman
Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain.
P
P
Dadvand
Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
A
A
Lesiak
Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
J
J
Narbutt
Danish Meteorological Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark.
P
P
Eriksen
Department of Dermatology, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
J
J
Heydenreich
Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain.
M
M
Nieuwenhuijsen
Department of Dermatology, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
E
E
Thieden
King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
A R
AR
Young
Department of Dermatology, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
H C
HC
Wulf
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000383:Agriculture; D001317:Austria; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011874:Radiometry; D012307:Risk Factors; D012867:Skin / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D013030:Spain; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
Children; Europe; Farming; Outdoor workers; Sun behaviour; UVR dosimetry; UVR exposure