N. Downs

Basal and squamous cell carcinoma risks for golfers: an assessment of the influence of tee time for latitudes in the northern and southern hemispheres

This study investigates the influence of tee time to determine the relative basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) risk for weekly single round competition golfers located in the Northern and Southern latitude ranges between 25°, 35°, 45° and 55°. A comparative risk methodology, employing annual erythemally effective ultraviolet (UVE) exposure calculations was used to determine BCC and SCC risk factors for golfers using a regular weekly tee time. Relative risk was found to be proportional to golf tee time with mid morning tee times generally presenting the greatest risk in each latitude range. The greatest contribution toward the risk of developing basal and squamous cell carcinoma was found to occur for golfers beginning weekly rounds mid to late morning, with specific risk factors of 1.47 (BCC) and 1.98 (SCC) in the Northern hemisphere compared with similar maximum risk factors of 1.51 (BCC) and 2.08 (SCC) in the Southern hemisphere occurring at comparable morning tee times. Differences in annual UVE exposure between the golfer and non-golfer were the largest determinant of BCC and SCC risk. Generally, these risks were found to decrease with lower latitude although contribution toward overall risk was influenced strongly by the global time zone of each studied golf course site.

Human UVA exposures estimated from ambient UVA measurements.

The methods presented in this paper allow for the estimation of human UVA exposure using measured UVA irradiance values. Using measured broadband UVA irradiances over the period of a year, it was estimated that for humans in an upright posture and not moving the head with respect to the body, the nose received 26.5% of the available ambient UVA radiation, whilst the shoulders and vertex of the head received 81% and 100% respectively of the available ambient UVA radiation. Measurement of the exposure ratios for a series of solar zenith angles between 90 degrees and 0 degrees will allow extension of this technique to other latitudes.

Dual calibrated dosimeter for simultaneous measurements of erythemal and vitamin D effective solar ultraviolet radiation.

A miniaturized ultraviolet radiation (UV) dosimeter based on polyphenylene oxide (PPO) has been dual calibrated for both erythemal and vitamin D effective exposures (UVB 280 - 320 nm) over extended periods up to five days. Optimal human health requires a balanced amount of UVB exposure as both too much and too little have different but serious potential health consequences. Dosimetry is an established method of measuring specific UV exposures to an object or subject. PPO dosimeters have previously been used to measure the erythemally effective UV exposure. An extension of this use is to dual calibrate the miniaturized dosimeter which will also enable measurement of vitamin D effective exposures. By calibration to the erythemal and vitamin D effective action spectra, PPO dosimeters were able to record both types of biologically effective exposure as both are active within the UVB waveband. Dose response tests were conducted in each season by exposure to solar UV with the corresponding dual calibrations made for each season. The calibration provided an R(2) of 0.95-0.99 for erythemal UV and an R(2) of 0.99 for vitamin D effective UV. The successful outcome of this testing has established that PPO is suitable for use as a long term, dual calibrated dosimeter provided the film is seasonally calibrated. This enables one dosimeter to provide two sets of exposure results. The combination of dual calibration and the long term exposure potential of PPO makes the PPO dosimeter more versatile and increases the scope of UV field research on erythemal UV and vitamin D effective UV in the future.

DOSIMETRIC INVESTIGATION OF THE SOLAR ERYTHEMAL UV RADIATION PROTECTION PROVIDED BY BEARDS AND MOUSTACHES

A dosimetric technique has been employed to establish the amount of erythemal ultraviolet radiation (UVR) protection provided by facial hair considering the influence of solar zenith angle (SZA) and beard-moustache length. The facial hair reduced the exposure ratios (ERs) to approximately one-third of those to the sites with no hair. The variation in the ERs over the different sites was reduced compared with the cases with no beard. The ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) provided by the facial hair ranged from 2 to 21. The UPF decreases with increasing SZA. The minimum UPF was in the 53-62° range. The longer hair provides a higher UPF at the smaller SZA, but the difference between the protection provided by the longer hair compared with the shorter hair reduces with increasing SZA. Protection from UVR is provided by the facial hair; however, it is not very high, particularly at the higher SZA.

Evaluation of the cloudy sky solar UVA radiation exposures

The influence of cloud on the solar UVA (320-400 nm) exposures over five minute periods on a horizontal plane has been investigated. The first approach used cloud modification factors that were evaluated using the influence of clouds on the global solar exposures (310-2800 nm) and a model developed to apply these to the clear sky UVA exposures to allow calculation of the five minute UVA exposures for any cloud conditions. The second approach established a relationship between the UVA and the global solar exposures. The models were developed using the first six months of data in 2012 for SZA less than or equal to 70° and were applied and evaluated for the exposures in the second half of 2012. This comparison of the modelled exposures for all cloud conditions to the measured data provided an R(2) of 0.8 for the cloud modification model, compared to an R(2) of 0.7 for the UVA/global model. The cloud modification model provided 73% of the five minute exposures within 20% of the measured UVA exposures. This was improved to 89% of the exposures within 20% of the measured UVA exposures for the cases of cloud with the sun not obscured.

Online educative activities for solar ultraviolet radiation based on measurements of cloud amount and solar exposures

A set of online activities for children and the community that are based on an integrated real-time solar UV and cloud measurement system are described. These activities use the functionality of the internet to provide an educative tool for school children and the public on the influence of cloud and the angle of the sun above the horizon on the global erythemal UV or sunburning UV, the diffuse erythemal UV, the global UVA (320-400nm) and the vitamin D effective UV. Additionally, the units of UV exposure and UV irradiance are investigated, along with the meaning and calculation of the UV index (UVI). This research will help ensure that children and the general public are better informed about sun safety by improving their personal understanding of the daily and the atmospheric factors that influence solar UV radiation and the solar UV exposures of the various wavebands in the natural environment. The activities may correct common misconceptions of children and the public about UV irradiances and exposure, utilising the widespread reach of the internet to increase the publics awareness of the factors influencing UV irradiances and exposures in order to provide clear information for minimizing UV exposure, while maintaining healthy, outdoor lifestyles.

Characterization of cloud cover with a smartphone camera

ABSTRACT A smartphone sky camera and associated image analysis algorithm has been developed and validated to determine total cloud cover and the percentage of thick and thin clouds using supervised image classification for a range of cloud types, cloud cover from 4% to 98%, and solar zenith angles between 6° and 49°. Additionally, this system provides the percentage of total, thick, and thin clouds in proximity to the solar disc. The measurement errors were comparable to those associated with values obtained by commercial sky camera systems. The benefits of increasing the availability of cloud fraction measurements include the potential to develop improved local ultraviolet indices and weather forecasts and to provide a better understanding of cloud patterns required for the generation of solar energy.

Alternative Methods for the Reduction of Evaporation: Practical Exercises for the Science Classroom.

Across the world, freshwater is valued as the most critically important natural resource, as it is required to sustain the cycle of life. Evaporation is one of the primary environmental processes that can reduce the amount of quality water available for use in industrial, agricultural and household applications. The effect of evaporation becomes intensified especially during conditions of drought, particularly in traditionally arid and semi-arid regions, such as those seen in a number of countries over the past ten years. In order to safeguard against the influence of droughts and to save water from being lost to the evaporative process, numerous water saving mechanisms have been developed and tested over the past century. Two of the most successful and widely used mechanisms have included floating hard covers and chemical film monolayers. This article describes a laboratory based project developed for senior high school and first year university classes, which has been designed to introduce students to the concepts of evaporation, evaporation modelling and water loss mitigation. Specifically, these ideas are delivered by simulating the large scale deployment of both monolayers and floating hard covers on a small water tank under numerous user defined atmospheric and hydrodynamic conditions, including varying surface wind speeds and underwater bubble plumes set to changing flow rates.