Influence of Air Temperature on the UV Exposure of Different Body Sites Due to Clothing of Young Women During Daily Errands
by Alois W Schmalwieser, Veronika T Schmalwieser, Susanne S Schmalwieser
Photochem Photobiol
Date : 2019 Mar 12
DOI: 10.1111/php.13088
Abstract
Clothing is one of the main influencing factors for personal ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure. Despite that, little attention was put on this topic till now. In this study, the clothing habits of young females have been investigated in dependence of meteorological conditions. Observations were made from spring to autumn during daylight in the urban region of Vienna, Austria. For this, a scheme dividing the body into six different sections was developed as well as a coding scale that corresponds to the different garments and indicates the body sites that are exposed. It was found that air temperature is the dominating factor for exposure. With increasing temperature, the first area of the body to be exposed to solar UVR is, aside from face and hands, the décolleté, followed by nape, ankles, instep and forearms. Observations further indicate that the frequency of people's being outdoors decreases significantly at temperatures higher than 30°C. This paper provides detailed frequency distributions of uncovered body sites in dependence of temperature. These can be used together with measurements of temperature and UVR to calculate the relative exposure at any time and at many locations, and could help to explain the body distribution of UVR caused skin alterations.
Clothing is one of the factors influencing personal ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure. In this study, clothing habits of young females were investigated in dependence of meteorological conditions. A body chart and a coding scheme were developed to indicate the exposed body sites. Results showed that air temperature is the dominating factor for UVR exposure. With increasing temperature, the first area of the body to be exposed to UVR, aside from face and hands, was the décolleté, followed by nape, ankles, instep and forearms. Observations also indicate that the frequency of people's being outdoors decreases significantly at temperatures higher than 30°C.
