Analysis of UV exposure for farmers: first experimental results

A decrease of atmospheric ozone and a change of its vertical distribution have many effects on man, animals, plants and materials. Decrease of ozone have direct influences by an increase of the UV radiation penetrating to the earth's surface. The effects of the radiation are predominantly damaging. A change of the vertical distribution of ozone in the atmosphere is likely to induce changes of climate, and this in turn influence the conditions needed for life. Exposure to sunlight can be dangerous. Overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation in sunlight can result in painful sunburn. It can also lead to more serious health effects, including skin cancer, premature aging of the skin, and other skin disorders; cataracts and other eye damage; and immune system suppression. Individuals working outdoor are at the greatest risk of UVB effects. This study is focused on exposure to UV radiation during some working phases as grapevine pruning, olive pruning and fruit tree pruning for farmers of Azienda Agraria Didattico-Sperimentale of Università Politecnica delle Marche. A monitoring and assessment systems of biologically effective doses of solar-UV radiation, are conducted in some months of the year. For this analysis a spectroradiometer and some polysulphon film dosimeter (UV dosimeter) are utilized. The UV dosimeter are used as personal dosimeters for evaluating human exposure to natural UV radiations. The results show clear the personal exposure, the erythermal exposures, the skin reflectivity, the skin temperature, the skin luminance, the free radicals and the effectiveness of UV protective strategies of farmers. These parameters are measured on a surface always exposed and on a surface inside the arm at the beginning and end of each working day. The equation correlating between the effective absorbed dose and the effective environmental dose is presented.