The risk to outdoor workers of exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) has been known for some time, particularly in the building and construction industry, where workers often use little in ...the way of protection against solar UVR. In recent years there have been attempts by authorities in Australia and in Queensland in particular, where UVR levels in spring and summer are very high to extreme, to instigate and to encourage the use of personal UVR protection by outdoor workers. To quantify UVR exposure of building and construction industry workers involved in typical outdoor work, a study was conducted using UVR-sensitive polysulphone film badges. The results indicated that the doses were significant, often well in excess of recommended exposure limits. The measured exposures varied between trades. Data on the use of personal UVR-protective equipment and the skin type of workers were also collected. Many of the workers had skin types that were sensitive to UVR and showed signs of sunburn. In summary, the study found that at-risk individuals were exposed to extreme levels of UVR, in most cases without adequate and appropriate sun protection.
Background Verbal self-report is the method most often used to assess sunscreen use, but the data may be confounded by recall error and social desirability. Sunscreen swabbing is a non-invasive ...procedure to objectively assess the presence of sunscreen on the skin. This study examined the agreement between verbal reports of sunscreen use from survey and diary measures and objectively measured sunscreen use. Methods Participants were 564 parents, children aged 5–10 years, and lifeguards at 16 swimming pools in four regions of the U.S. Participants completed self-reported measures, including baseline and final surveys, as well as a 4-day diary and objective swabbing measures of sunscreen presence on 2 separate days. Data were collected in 2006 and analyzed in 2006–2007. Results Levels of sunscreen use were relatively high based on surveys (65.7%); diary data (40.3%); and swabbing measures (59.1%). Agreement between swabbing and diary measures of sunscreen use was fair to good, with κ statistics for children at 0.40, followed by lifeguards at 0.34 and parents at 0.27. Validity coefficients across measures of sunscreen use were higher for lifeguards and parents than for children, and diary measures were higher than surveys. No systematic errors were found across groups or by gender, latitude, study arm, or risk category. Conclusions These findings are comparable to those in other validation studies, including studies of the validity of dietary assessments. Self-reported estimates of sunscreen use by diaries or surveys appear to be as good as objective measures.
Leading international health organisations are concerned about high use of artificial tanning services and the associated risk of skin cancer. Similar concerns exist about the growing Australian ...solarium industry.
Pre‐teens appear to be ignoring sun safety messages in their desire to tan and use solaria.
A significantly elevated risk of melanoma exists among people exposed to artificial ultraviolet radiation; the risk is higher for those younger than 35 years at first solarium use. For all users, the risk of squamous cell carcinoma is more than doubled compared with non‐users.
We estimated the numbers of new melanoma cases and melanoma‐related deaths attributable to solarium use by younger people in the five most populous Australian states and indirectly quantified potential costs to the health system that could be saved by effective regulation of the solarium industry.
Annually, 281 new melanoma cases, 43 melanoma‐related deaths and 2572 new cases of squamous cell carcinoma were estimated to be attributable to solarium use.
The annual cost to the health system — predominantly Medicare Australia — for these avoidable skin cancer cases and deaths is about $3 million.
By successfully enforcing solarium regulations that ban use by people younger than 18 years or with fair skin, favourable health and cost benefits could be expected.
Background Few studies have reported the accuracy of measures used to assess sun-protection practices. Valid measures are critical to the internal validity and use of skin cancer control research. ...Objectives We sought to validate self-reported covering-up practices of pool-goers. Methods A total of 162 lifeguards and 201 parent/child pairs from 16 pools in 4 metropolitan regions in the United States completed a survey and a 4-day sun-habits diary. Observations of sun-protective behaviors were conducted on two occasions. Results Agreement between observations and diaries ranged from slight to substantial, with most values in the fair to moderate range. Highest agreement was observed for parent hat use (κ = 0.58-0.70). There was no systematic pattern of over- or under-reporting among the 3 study groups. Limitations Potential reactivity and a relatively affluent sample are limitations. Conclusion There was little over-reporting and no systematic bias, which increases confidence in reliance on verbal reports of these behaviors in surveys and intervention research.
Objective
A protective association between higher vitamin D levels and the onset of multiple sclerosis (MS) has been demonstrated; however, its role in modulating MS clinical course has been little ...studied. We investigated whether higher levels of serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25‐OH‐D) were associated with a lower risk of relapses in people with MS.
Methods
We conducted a prospective cohort study of 145 participants with relapsing‐remitting MS from 2002 to 2005. Serum 25‐OH‐D levels were measured biannually, and the hazard of relapse was assessed using survival analysis.
Results
There was an inverse linear relationship between 25‐OH‐D levels and the hazard of relapse over the subsequent 6 months, with hazard ratio (HR) 0.91 (95% confidence interval CI: 0.85–0.97) per 10nmol/l increase in 25‐OH‐D level (p = 0.006). When variation due to timing of blood collection was removed by estimating 25‐OH‐D at the start of each season, this association persisted, with HR 0.90 (95% CI, 0.83–0.98) per 10nmol/l increase (p = 0.016). Taking into account the biological half‐life of 25‐OH‐D, we estimated 25‐OH‐D at monthly intervals, resulting in a slightly enhanced association, with HR 0.88 (95% CI, 0.82–0.95) per 10nmol/l increase (p = 0.001). Adjusting for potential confounders did not alter these findings.
Interpretation
In this prospective population‐based cohort study, in a cohort largely on immunomodulatory therapy, higher 25‐OH‐D levels were associated with a reduced hazard of relapse. This occurred in a dose‐dependent linear fashion, with each 10nmol/l increase in 25‐OH‐D resulting in up to a 12% reduction in risk of relapse. Clinically, raising 25‐OH‐D levels by 50nmol/l could halve the hazard of a relapse. ANN NEUROL 2010;68:193–203
We are developing a geospatial inventory tool that will guide habitat conservation, restoration and coastal development and benefit several stakeholders who seek mitigation and adaptation strategies ...to shoreline changes resulting from erosion and sea level rise. The ESRI Geoportal Server, which is a type of web portal used to find and access geospatial information in a central repository, is customized by adding a Geoinventory tool capability that allows any shoreline related data to be searched, displayed and analyzed on a map viewer. Users will be able to select sections of the shoreline and generate statistical reports in the map viewer to allow for comparisons. The tool will also facilitate map-based discussion forums and creation of user groups to encourage citizen participation in decisions regarding shoreline stabilization and restoration, thereby promoting sustainable coastal development.
The Global Solar UV Index was developed as an easy-to-understand measure of the amount of biologically-effective ambient solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) at different locations on the earth's ...surface. Over the past few years, questions have been raised about the global applicability of the UV Index, about the evidence base for exposure risk thresholds and related protective measures, and about whether the overall impact of the UV Index could be improved with modifications. An international workshop was organized by several organizations, including the World Health Organization, to assess if current evidence was sufficiently strong to modify the UV Index and to discuss different ways it might be improved in order to influence sun-protective behavior. While some animal research suggests there may be no threshold effect, the relative importance of sub-erythemal doses of sunlight in causing skin cancer in humans remains unknown. Evidence suggests that regular use of sunscreen can prevent skin cancer and that sunglasses are an effective method of protecting the eyes from solar UVR. The UV Index as a risk communication tool continues to be useful for raising awareness and to support sun-protection behavior. Although there was agreement that guidance on the use of the UV Index could be improved, the workshop participants identified that strong health outcome-based human evidence would be needed as the basis for a revision. For the UV Index to be relevant in as many countries as possible, it should continue to be adapted to suit local conditions.
The Antarctic ozone hole during 2015 and 2016 Tully, Matthew B.; Klekociuk, Andrew R.; Krummel, Paul B. ...
Journal of Southern Hemisphere earth systems science,
2019, Letnik:
69, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
We reviewed the 2015 and 2016 Antarctic ozone holes, making use of a variety of ground-based and spacebased measurements of ozone and ultraviolet radiation, supplemented by meteorological reanalyses. ...The ozone hole of 2015 was one of the most severe on record with respect to maximum area and integrated deficit and was notably longlasting, with many values above previous extremes in October, November and December. In contrast, all assessed metrics for the 2016 ozone hole were at or below their median values for the 37 ozone holes since 1979 for which adequate satellite observations exist. The 2015 ozone hole was influenced both by very cold conditions and enhanced ozone depletion caused by stratospheric aerosol resulting from the April 2015 volcanic eruption of Calbuco (Chile).
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