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Validity and use of the UV index: report from the UVI working group, Schloss Hohenkammer, Germany, 5-7 December 2011
Citation
Allinson, S and Asmuss, M and Baldermann, C and Bentzen, J and Buller, D and Gerber, N and Green, AC and Greinert, R and Kimlin, M and Kunrath, J and Matthes, R and Polzl-Viol, C and Rehfuess, E and Rossmann, C and Schuez, N and Sinclair, C and van Deventer, E and Webb, A and Weiss, W and Ziegelberger, G, Validity and use of the UV index: report from the UVI working group, Schloss Hohenkammer, Germany, 5-7 December 2011, Health Physics: The Radiation Safety Journal, 103, (3) pp. 301-306. ISSN 0017-9078 (2012) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Copyright 2012 Health Physics Society
DOI: doi:10.1097/HP0b013e31825b581e
Abstract
The adequacy of the UV Index (UVI), a simple measure of ambient solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation, has been questioned on the basis of recent scientific data on the importance of vitamin D for human health, the mutagenic capacity of radiation in the UVA wavelength, and limitations in the behavioral impact of the UVI as a public awareness tool. A working group convened by ICNIRP and WHO met to assess whether modifications of the UVI were warranted and to discuss ways of improving its effectiveness as a guide to healthy sun-protective behavior. A UV Index greater than 3 was confirmed as indicating ambient UV levels at which harmful sun exposure and sunburns could occur and hence as the threshold for promoting preventive messages. There is currently insufficient evidence about the quantitative relationship of sun exposure, vitamin D, and human health to include vitamin D considerations in sun protection recommendations. The role of UVA in sunlight-induced dermal immunosuppression and DNA damage was acknowledged, but the contribution of UVA to skin carcinogenesis could not be quantified precisely. As ambient UVA and UVB levels mostly vary in parallel in real life situations, any minor modification of the UVI weighting function with respect to UVA-induced skin cancer would not be expected to have a significant impact on the UV Index. Though it has been shown that the UV Index can raise awareness of the risk of UV radiation to some extent, the UVI does not appear to change attitudes to sun protection or behavior in the way it is presently used. Changes in the UVI itself were not warranted based on these findings, but rather research testing health behavior models, including the roles of self-efficacy and self-affirmation in relation to intention to use sun protection among different susceptible groups, should be carried out to develop more successful strategies toward improving sun protection behavior
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | carcinogenesis, exposure, radiation, radiation risk, ultraviolet radiation |
| Research Division: | Health Sciences |
| Research Group: | Public health |
| Research Field: | Health promotion |
| Objective Division: | Health |
| Objective Group: | Evaluation of health and support services |
| Objective Field: | Health education and promotion |
| UTAS Author: | Schuez, N (Dr Natalie Schuez) |
| ID Code: | 80917 |
| Year Published: | 2012 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 23 |
| Deposited By: | Medicine |
| Deposited On: | 2012-11-15 |
| Last Modified: | 2017-11-06 |
| Downloads: | 1 View Download Statistics |
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