Nancy Kerr

Clothing as protection from ultraviolet radiation: which fabric is most effective?

Background

Protection of Humans from Ultraviolet Radiation through the Use of Textiles: A Review

One of the growing concerns of the present decade is the health risk associated with exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and its link with problems such as carcinogenesis, cataracts, sunburn, and photoaging. For protection from UVR, medical experts recommend avoiding exposure, using sunscreens, donning hats, and covering up with clothing. Research on the solar-protective value of clothing, however, still leaves many questions unanswered. This review of literature identifies the need for appropriate protection from the sun, especially for children, and the benefits of clothing as protection. The methods and difficulties associated with assessing the UVR protection and the definition of the sun protection factor (SPF) of clothing are outlined and discussed. Studies using in vivo, radiometric, and spectrophotometric methodologies to assess the UVR transmission throughfabrics are examined. Fabric variables, identified in the literature, that have beenfound to affect UVR transmission values are discussed.

ABILITY OF TEXTILE COVERS TO PROTECT ARTIFACTS FROM ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION

Abstract Textiles are an effective, reusable, and inexpensive means of protecting museum objects from ultraviolet radiation (UV), visible light, and dust. To determine how well fabrics screen objects from the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation, a selection of fabrics varying in fiber content, structure, and color were characterized. The UV transmission in the 280–380 nm range was recorded for each fabric with a spectrophotometer equipped with an integrating sphere and a fluorescence filter. Results showed that the UV blockage varied from a low of 61% (Cerex spunbonded nylon) to a high of 99.9% (black nylon/spandex knit). Unbleached muslin blocked more UV than bleached muslin. The fabric characteristics most affecting UV transmission were mass, thickness, and color.

Survival of Archaeological Textiles in an Arctic Environment

Beechey Island, Northwest Territories, Canada, August 1984: Beattie and co-workers from the University of Alberta opened the grave of Petty Officer John Torrington, and found his body almost perfectly preserved in ice. This was a significant moment in an on-going research project, coordinated by Beattie, to determine why all 129 crew members of the Third Sir John Franklin British Arctic Expedition perished in northern Canada (Figure 1) between 1846 and 1848 as they were seeking the Northwest Passage to the Pacific Ocean. The men had left England in 1845, provisioned for three years, aboard the ships HMS Terror and HMS Erebus. Their unexplained deaths have resulted in numerous search expeditions and resultant publications and much speculation in the 140 years since their disappearance (e.g. Cyriax, 1939; Kane, 1854; Stefansson, 1938).

Care and maintenance of cold weather protective clothing

Abstract: Cleaning procedures have undergone many changes in the last decade, many of which greatly affect the maintenance of cold weather clothing. In this chapter, both traditional and newer cleaning processes and equipment are reviewed and applied to cleaning cold weather clothing. Problem areas for maintenance of cold weather clothing are identified, described and illustrated.

Effect of Abrasion on Penetration of Tri-allate Through Selected Disposable Coverall Fabrics

Many agricultural workers wear disposable nonwoven coveralls while applying pesticides in the field. The degree of protection these garments offer after abrasive wear has not been studied. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of abrasion on the penetration of a liquid pesticide, tri-allate, through selected disposable garment fabrics: Kleenguard® EP and Tyvek®. The relationship between the initial thickness and the initial mass of the fabric specimens and pesticide penetration also was examined to determine the effect of initial fabric variability on penetration. Penetration of tri-allate through the two fabrics differed statistically although total penetration was less than 1 % for both fabrics. Abrasion simulating one days wearing resulted in a statistically significant increase in penetration through Kleenguard® EP but had no effect on penetration through Tyvek®. Initial mean thickness correlated with the penetration of tri-allate for Tyvek® at all three levels of abrasion and for unabraded Kleenguard® EP, but there was no correlation between initial mean thickness and pesticide penetration on abraded Kleenguard® EP specimens. Abrasion was a greater determinant of the rate of pesticide penetration than initial variability in thickness for Kleenguard® EP; initial variability in thickness remained a significant factor in pesticide penetration even after abrasion for Tyvek®. Initial mass did not correlate with pesticide penetration for either fabric.

The Long Term Effect of Vapona on Textiles: Preliminary Findings

The protection of textile collections from insects in museums and historic buildings is a challenge for museum personnel. Numerous insecticides which were formerly used in museums have been withdrawn from the market place. Attention is now focused on dichlorvos, one of the few remaining organophosphate insecticides accepted as a biocide for museum use. Dichlorvos or DDVP (0,0-dimethyl-2,2-dichlorovinyl phosphate) is dispersed in polyvinyl chloride resin to form a slow release pest strip such as Vapona®, No-pest Strip® or S.W.A.T.® Due to its effectiveness as a broad spectrum insecticide (Attfield et al., 1966), dichlorvos is used in museums throughout the world. At the UNESCO conference, Conservation of Cultural Materials in Humid Climates, held in Australia in 1979, conservators proposed that museums in the Cook Islands, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, New Zealand and other Pacific Rim countries use Vapona® pest strips to control insects (UNESCO, 1979). Dichlorvos is reported to be used in museums in India. Britain (Stansfield, 1985), Europe and North America (Edwards et al., 1981).

Chlorpyrifos Decontamination Procedures for Clothing and Equipment

The safe clean-up of pesticide spills in the workplace and decontamination of equipment and clothing are important in minimizing pesticide exposure. The objectives of the research were: to develop a detoxification procedure for chlorpyrifos which would enable safe clean-up on the job site; to determine if a 3-hour chlorine bleach pretreatment of fabrics contaminated with dilute chlorpyrifos is as effective in pesticide removal from 65/35 polyester/cotton as from 100% cotton; and to determine whether the chlorine bleach pretreatment is effective for removal of concentrated chlorpyrifos residues. The researchers make specific recommendations for chlorine bleach detoxification of chlorpyrifos, and for use of a bleach/soak laundry protocol for removal of dilute chlorpyrifos from cotton and polyester/cotton. Concentrated chlorpyrifos cannot be effectively removed from either fabric by laundering.

Advantages and limitations of the ninhydrin test for analysis of historic wool fibers

There are very few quantitative tests suitable for measuring the degradation of historic wools and silks. Most tests are qualitative and results are confounded by variations in fiber diameter. The ninhydrin test, in which ninhydrin (triketohydrinene hydrate) reacts with primary amino groups and produces Ruhemanns purple, is a well-known test for amino acids in solution. The test has been modified by researchers in order to give a quantitative measure of primary amino groups in wool and silk fibers. The primary amino group content of new wool is compared with wool degraded by moist heat and several archaeological wools. Some of the advantages of the ninhydrin tests include: 1) an analytical procedure for quantitative work; 2) small sample size; and 3) equipment commonly available in an analytical laboratory. One limitation of the test is the fact that ninhydrin reacts not only with (alpha + epsilon) amino groups but also with ammonia nitrogen and other free amines. In addition, archaeological and historic protein fibers are often contaminated with soil residues which are difficult to remove and will influence test results.