Solar UVR Exposures of Primary School Children at Three Locations in Queensland

Abstract

The ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposures of primary school children in Brisbane, Toowoomba and Mackay (latitudes 27 degrees 30', 27 degrees 33' and 21 degrees 15' south, respectively) were assessed over a period of 2 weeks at each location using UVR-sensitive polysulfone (PS) film badges attached at the shoulder. The students filled in questionnaires on their time spent outdoors for each day of the study. These data in conjunction with the ambient UVR measured by a detector/datalogger unit at each site were used to correlate the calculated exposures with those measured using the PS badges. Overall, the questionnaires indicated that the males spent more time outdoors and had higher measured UVR exposures than females. For both boys and girls at each location, there was a strong correlation between the mean measured UVR exposure and the ambient solar UVR at that location.