Documents solar radiation 16 results

"Background
Occupational exposure to solar ultraviolet (UV) is known to cause malignant melanoma (MM) and non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC). However, knowledge of the causal associations has developed erratically.
Aims
This review aims to identify when it was accepted that workplace solar UV exposure could cause skin cancer and when it was recognized that there was a risk for outdoor workers in Britain, identifying the steps employers should have taken to protect their workers.
Methods
Informative reviews, published since 1974, were located through a systematic literature search. These were used to chart changes in summative knowledge of the role of occupational solar UV exposure in causing skin cancer. An assessment was made of the identified hazards of skin cancer and the recognition of risks for outdoor workers in Britain.
Results
From at least 1975, it has been accepted that occupational solar UV exposure could cause squamous cell carcinoma, and from around 2011 for MM and basal cell carcinoma. From 2004, repeated sunburn at work was identified as a likely cause of MM. From 1999, it was accepted that occupational solar UV exposure causes NMSC amongst British workers, and from 2012 there was limited evidence for an MM risk for outdoor workers in northern European countries.
Conclusions
Skin cancer risks for British outdoor workers should be actively managed and they should have health surveillance. Outdoor workers who have skin cancer should be eligible for compensation."

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"Crewmembers are exposed to galactic cosmic radiation on every flight and occasionally to solar protons on polar flights. Data are presented showing that the proton occasions are seven times more frequent than generally believed. Crewmembers are also exposed to neutrons and gamma rays from the sun and to gamma rays from terrestrial thunderstorms. Solar neutrons and gamma rays (1) expose the daylight side of Earth, (2) are most intense at lower latitudes, (3) may be as or more frequent than solar protons, and (4) have relativistic energies. The U.S. agency responsible for crewmember safety only considers the galactic component with respect to its recommended 20 mSv y(-1) limit, but it has an estimate for a thunderstorm dose of 30 mSv. In view of overlooked sources, possible over-limit doses, and lack of dosimetry, dose reconstructions are needed. However, using the agency dose estimates and the compensation procedure for U.S. nuclear weapon workers, the probability of crewmember cancers can be at least as likely as not. Ways to improve the quality of dose estimates are suggested, and a worker's compensation program specific to aviation crewmembers is recommended."

"Qu'ils soient d'origine solaire ou artificielle, les ultraviolets (UV) sont susceptibles d'entraîner des altérations cellulaires responsables de troubles de la vue et surtout de cancers cutanés. Les travailleurs du BTP, qui exercent leur activité en extérieur, sont particulièrement concernés. D'autant qu'ils sont exposés à diverses substances chimiques, cofacteurs de ces cancers de la peau. La législation rappelle aux employeurs l'importance d'informer et de protéger leurs salariés."

"La mejora del diagnóstico de las enfermedades profesionales representa uno de los principales desafíos en el ámbito de la Salud Laboral. Su identicación requiere poseer conocimientos y destrezas altamente especializados acerca de problemas de salud muy diversos y muy especícos.
El Manual de Medicina: Cánceres cutáneos profesionales pretende hacer accesible a los médicos que desarrollan su actividad profesional en Ibermutuamur las claves para su conocimiento y diagnóstico, al tiempo que analiza en profundidad temas relacionados de enorme vigencia, como los riesgos derivados de exposición solar o las estrategias para reducir sus efectos más negativos."

"A marked increase in the incidence of skin cancers has been observed in fair-skinned populations worldwide since the early 1970s. This is strongly associated with personal habits in relation to sun exposure and its ultraviolet (UV) component, and the societal view that a tan is desirable and healthy. The Global Solar UV Index (UVI) described in this document was developed in an international effort by WHO in collaboration with WMO, UNEP and ICNIRP, and is a simple measure of the UV radiation level at the Earth's surface. It serves as an important vehicle to raise public awareness and to alert people about the need to adopt protective measures when exposed to UV radiation. Intersun, WHO's Global UV Project, aims to reduce the burden of disease resulting from exposure to UV radiation by assessing and quantifying health risks, and developing an appropriate response through guidelines, recommendations and information dissemination."

(Publisher's abstract)

"Human exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation has important public health implications. Evidence of harm associated with overexposure to UV has been demonstrated in many studies. Skin cancer and malignant melanoma are among the most severe health effects, but a series of other health effects have been identified. The current report provides a quantification of the global disease burden associated with UV. The information presented forms a knowledge base for the prevention of adverse effects of UV exposure that is achievable with known and accessible interventions. UV prevention focuses on protecting the skin and other organs from UV radiation. On the other hand, a moderate degree of UV exposure is necessary for the production of Vitamin D which is essential for bone health. Additionally, evidence emerges that low Vitamin D levels are likely to be associated with other chronic diseases. Thus, public health policy on ultraviolet radiation needs to aim at preventing the disease burden associated both with excessive and with insufficient UV exposure."

"Explores the many methodological and conceptual issues that need to be resolved before researchers can establish reliable predictions of the health consequences of stratospheric ozone depletion. The book responds to major deficiencies in the data needed to estimate the size of health effects likely to arise from an almost certain increase in ultraviolet (UV) irradiance at the earth's surface, caused by environmental change. Specific research proposals are intended to guide the design of a large geographical correlation study to be conducted as part of The International Research Programme on Health, Solar UV Radiation and Environmental Change (INTERSUN). The book has thirteen chapters, each focused on methodological issues and their relevance to the design of the proposed international study. The first chapter evaluates methods for predicting changes in the incidence of skin cancer. Four subsequent chapters evaluate recent trends in the incidence of melanoma and non-melanocytic skin cancer, review evidence on the causes of these trends, and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of current approaches to the measurement of incidence. Chapter six considers the possible use, for monitoring purposes, of biological markers. Subsequent chapters review methods for measuring the effects of solar UV radiation on the immune system and on the eye. Other chapters assess trends in UV irradiance at the surface of the earth, and describe the range of currently available instruments for measuring UV radiation, concluding that spectral monitoring is the preferred method of measurement."