Ultraviolet Radiation
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Environmental Health Criteria 160 Ultraviolet Radiation An Authoritative Scientific Review of Environmental and Health Effects of UV, with Reference to Global Ozone Layer Depletion V\JflVV ptiflcti1p cii ii, L?flUctd EnrrcmH Prormwe. Me World Haah6 Orgniri1ion and Fhc nIrrHbccrlT Ornrn)is5ion on Nfl-oflizirig Raditiori Prioiioii THE Ef4VIRONMEF4FAL HEALTH CI4ITERIA SERIES Acetonitrile (No. 154, 1993) 2,4-Dichloroplierioxyaceric acid (2 4 D) (No 29 Acrolein (No 127, 1991) 1984) Acrylamide (No 49, 1985) 2,4.Dichlorophenoxyucetic acd - erivirorrmerrtul Acr5lonilrile (No. 28, 1983) aspects (No. 54, 1989) Aged population, principles for evaluating the 1 ,3-Dichloroproperte, 1,2-dichloropropane and effects of chemicals (No 144, 1992) mixtures (No. 146, 1993( Aldicarb (No 121, 1991) DDT and its derivatives (No 9 1979) Aidrin and dieldrin (No 91 1989) DDT and its derivatives - environmental aspects Allethrins (No 87, 1989) (No. 83, 1989) Alpha-cypermethrirr (No 142, 1992) Deltamethrin (No 97, 1990) Ammonia (No 54, 1985) Diamirrotoluenes (No 74, 1987( Arsenic (No 18. 1981) Dichiorsos (No. 79, 1988) Asbestos and other natural mineral fibres Diethylhexyl phthalate (No. 131, 191112) (No. 53, 198€) Dirnethoate (No 90, 1989) Barium (No. 137 1990) Dimethylformnmde (No 114, 1991) Benomy( (No 143, 1993) Dimethyf sulfate (No. 48. 1985) Benzene (No 150, 1993) Diseases of suspected chemical etiology and Beryllium (No 106, 1990( their prevention principles of studies on Biommkers and risk assessment concepts (No. 72 1967) and principles (No. 155, 1993) Dilhiocarbsmats pesticides, ethylerrvthiourea, and Biotoxins, aquatic (marine and freshmaterl propylerrethiourea a general introdUCtiori (No 37, 1984) NO. 78. 1958) Butanols . four isomers (No. 65 1987) Electromagnetic Fields (No 1 '37 19921 Cadmiurrr (No 134 1992) Endosulfan (No 40. 1984) Cadmium environmental aspects (No 135 1992) Etidnin (No 130, 1992) Camphechlor (No. 45, 1994) Eriviroirrnrental epidemiology cuidelsnev on Carbamale pesticides, a general it1ioduClott studies in (Nc 27. 1983) (NO 64, 1958) Epichloronxdrrn (No 33, 19841 Carbaryl (No 153, 1993) Ethylene oxide (No 55 1985) Carhenduzim (NG 149 tg(idi Extremely In. frenieni. y IELF (ivldn, IN (c(t5 Carbon disurtide (No 10. 19791 19341 Carbon monoxide (No 13 1979 btnitotliion (No 133 19921 Carcinogens summary report an the evaluation Fensalerate No 95 1 1119C' of short-term In vitro tests (No 47, 1985) uluorinC and fluoridvs (N.j 36 - 584-i Carcinogens summary report ott the evaluation Fo86 addlives and cotttarninat'is iii lorxt of slrort-lerm Iii vivo tests (No 109 199131 prirrciples for the safety assessment of Chiordatie (No 34, 1984) (No 711 1987) Chlorcecone (No. 43 1954) Formaldehyde (No 89 939 Chlorine and fryorogert ctilordn (Nt, 21 1982) Genetic nffeclv in human populations Chlorobenzenes other than hexachlorobenzerte guidelines for the study of (No 46 19851 No 128 1i'xt1) Heptachior (No 38 1984) Chlorofluorocarbons fully nalogerrated (No 113, Hexachlorobutadierre (No 1 56 11)94) 1990) Alpha and beta-hvxachlorocvcloliexanvv Chlorofivorocarborts, partially halogeriateri (No 123 1991) (elhane derivalivesi (No 139, 1992) Hvxachlorocyclopentadierte (No 23 1991'- Chlorofluorocarborrs, partially halogenated n-Hexane (Ncr. 122 19911 (irietharre der-vatives) (Nt, 125 1991) Hydravirn (Na 68 1987) Chloroplonols (No 93 1989) Hydrogen sulfide (Nc 19. 198 Chrorrilurn (No 61 1988( -lydroquimnone (No 157, I 994r Cvhslolhrin (No 99 1990) dilancy and early chilcilrocxl, pnnrtpiev fur Cvperns1hnn (No 82, 19)19) vualuating health risis rcm chem;cals Cypermetfirin alpha- (No 142 1992) during (No 59 1986) 2-Dichloroelhane No 82, 1987) isobenzrm'n (No 129 191'0) Out of print ct;'rtir'nrted tirbidi( bacA This report contaLns the collective views of an in- ternational group of experts and does not necessarily represcnt the decisions or the stated policy of the United Nations Environment Programme, the Interna- tional Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Pro- tection, or the World Health Organization. Environmental Health Criteria 160 ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION An Authoritative Scientific Review of Environmental and Health Effects of UV, with Reference to Global Ozone Layer Depletion Published under the joint sponsorship of the United Nations Environment Programme, the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection and the World Health Organization World Health Organization Geneva. 1994 The International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS) is a joint venture of the United Nations Environment Programme, the International Labour Organisation, and the World Health Organization. The main objective of the IPCS is to carry out and disseminate evaluations of the effects of chemicals on human health and the quality of the environment. Supporting activities include the development of epidemiological, experimental laboratory and risk-assessment methods that could produce internationally comparable results, and the development of manpower in the field of toxicology. Other activities carried out by the IPCS include the development of know-how for coping with chemical accidents, coordination of laboratory testing and epidemiological studies, and promotion of research on the mechanisms of the biological action of chemicals. WHO Library Cataloguing in Publication Data Ultraviolet radiation (Environmental health criteria; 160) Ultraviolet rays 2. Radiation e fleets 3.Environmental exposure I.Scries ISBN 92 4 157160 S (NLM Classification: WD 605) ISSN 0250-863X The World Heatth Organization welcomes requests for permission to reproduce or translate its publications, in part or in full. Applications and enquiries should he addressed to the Office of Publications, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, which will he glad to provide the latest information on any changes made to the text, plans for new editions, and reprints and translations already available. ©World Health Organization 1994 Publications of the World Health Organization enjoy copyright protection in accordance with the provisions of Protocol 2 of the Universal Copyright Convention. All rights reserved. The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsocvcr on the part of the Secretariat of the World Health Organization concerning the legal status of any country, terriLory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The mention of specific companies or of certain manufacturers' products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the World Health Organization in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. ElTors and omissions excepted, ihe nature of proprietary products are distinguished by initial capital letters. PRINTED IN FiNLAND 93/9908 - VAMMALA - 5500 CONTENTS PREFACE . 1. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS ......................... I.! Physical characteristics .............................. 1.2 Action spectrum and minimum erythemal dose .............2 1.3 Cellular and molecular studies .........................2 1.4 Animal studies ....................................3 1.5 Health effects on humans ............................4 1.5.1 Skin ....................................4 1.5.2 Immune system ............................5 1.5.3 Eye ....................................5 1.6 Environment .....................................6 1.7 Guidelines on exposure limits and protective measures ........6 2. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS ..........................9 2.1 Eleetromanetic spectrum ............................ 9 2.2 Radiometric quantities and units ....................... 10 2.3 UV production ................................... 10 2.3.1 Thermal emitters .......................... 12 23.2 Electrical gaseous discharges .................. 12 2.3.3 Stimulated emission ........................ 14 2.4 Summary ...................................... 14 3. UV SOURCES ....................................... 15 3.1 The sun ....................................... 1 5 3.1.1 Factors affecting solar UV levels ............... 17 3.1.2 Ozone depletion effects ...................... 18 3.1.3 Trends in UV 19 .......................... 19 3.1.4 Theoretical models ......................... 20 3.1.5 UV monitoring ........................... 21 3.1.6 Analysis of UV data ........................ 24 3.1.7 Conclusions .............................. 25 3.2 Artificial sources ................................. 25 3.2.1 Incandescent sources ....................... 26 3.2.2 Gaseous discharge sources ................... 29 3.2.3 Gas welding ............................. 39 3.14 Are welding ............................. 39 3.2.5 Lasers .................................. 39 3.16 Sunbcds ................................ 4 2 4. HUMAN EXPOSURE ..................................45 4.1 Sunlight ....................................... 45 4.2 Skin exposure geometry ............................ 46 4.3 Ocular exposure geometry ........................... 48 4.4 Workplace ...................................... 5(1 4.4.1 Outdoor work ............................ 50 4.4.2 Indoor work ..............................So 4.4.3 Research .................................51 4.4.4 Commerce ............................... 52 I!i EHC 160: Ultraviolet Radiation 4.4.5 Medicine and dentistry ......................53 4.5 Elective exposure .................................55 5. DOSIMETRIC CONCEPTS ..............................57 5.1 Tnteraction of UV with matter .......................