Natural UV Radiation Research Articles

Molecular effects of indoor tanning.

Tanning bed users have a significantly increased risk of melanoma, but it remains unclear how indoor tanning drives melanomagenesis. Tanning bed radiation is often thought of as a substitute for natural UV radiation despite differences in the maximum doses, UV content, body sites exposed, and patterns of melanoma that arise. To better understand the epidemiologic trends and etiology of melanoma associated with tanning bed use, we described the patterns of melanoma in patients with quantifiable tanning bed usage and performed exome sequencing of 182 melanocytes from normal skin of a subset of these patients. Tanning bed users were more likely than non-users to have melanoma on body sites with low cumulative levels of sun damage and were more likely to have multiple melanomas. The melanocytes in normal appearing skin from tanning bed users had higher mutation burdens, a higher proportion of melanocytes with pathogenic mutations, and distinct mutational signatures. These differences were most prominent over body sites that experience comparatively less exposure to natural sunlight. We conclude that tanning bed radiation induces melanoma by increasing the mutation burden of melanocytes and by mutagenizing a broader field of melanocytes than are typically exposed to natural sunlight. The unique signatures of mutations in skin cells of tanning users may be attributable to the distinct spectra of radiation emitted from solariums.

Study of the Bunsen–Roscoe Reciprocity Law in Solar Water Disinfection (Optical Effect) for E. coli, E. faecalis and C. perfringens

Water stress and water quality represent major environmental challenges in the 21st century. In response, wastewater management and its potential reuse emerge as strategies to mitigate these problems. This research aims to verify the law of reciprocity in the solar disinfection process of real secondary wastewater effluents for different faecal microorganisms. Flat disinfection reactors, subjected only to natural and continuous UV radiation, were used. The study focused on the optical effect of UV radiation, eliminating the significant influence of the thermal effect and its synergy in solar disinfection at temperatures above 45 °C, by controlling the temperatures of the water samples to levels below 20 °C. Three experimental tests were carried out on sunny days. Each test comprised two trials, under the following conditions: (a) low solar irradiance over a prolonged time (duration approximately: 2.6 h) and (b) high solar irradiance and a shorter period of time (approximately 2 h), with each receiving the same UV dose. Inactivation kinetics was analysed for E. coli, E. faecalis, and C. perfringens (including spores). The results validated the reciprocity law for E. coli in all tests for UV doses > 20 Wh/m2, showing no significant deviations, with inactivation rates of 0.44 to 0.51 m2/Wh for initial concentrations of 106–107 CFU/100 mL. In contrast, for E. faecalis, the reciprocity was only valid at intensities < 700 W/m2, with rates of 0.04 and 0.035 m2/Wh for 105–106 CFU/100 mL; above this irradiance value, the law varied significantly and was not valid. C. perfringens did not show significant disinfection results during the experiments to verify this law, mainly due to the resistance of its spores. Additional experimentation with C. perfringens is necessary, by extending the length of the experiments and/or conducting them at higher irradiance values, in order to reach bacterial inactivation to enable the analysis of the reciprocity law. In general, the main conclusion from these results is that the reciprocity law in solar disinfection would be difficult to use for the estimation of water solar disinfection based on the irradiance and exposure times, as there are deviations from it at least in one specie (E. faecalis). Mores studies should be carried out to fully understand and determine the validity of this law and its potential application for forecasting solar water disinfection.

Transient impacts of UV-B irradiation on whole body regeneration in a colonial urochordate

Within the chordates, only some colonial ascidians experience whole body regeneration (WBR), where amputated small colonial fragments containing blood-vessels have the capability to regenerate the entire functional adult zooid within 1–3 weeks. Studying WBR in small colonial fragments taken at different blastogenic stages (the weekly developmental process characteristic to botryllid ascidians) from the ascidian Botrylloides leachii, about half of the fragments were able to complete regeneration (cWBR) three weeks following separation, about half were still in uncomplete, running regeneration (rWBR), and only a small percentage died. cWBR significantly increased in fragments that originated from a late blastogenic stage compared to an early stage. Most B. leachii populations reside in shallow waters, under variable daily natural UV irradiation, and it is of interest to elucidate irradiation effects on development and regeneration. Here, we show that UV-B irradiation resulted in enhanced mortality, with abnormal morphological changes in surviving fragments, yet with non-significant cWBR vs. rWBRs. Further, UV-B irradiation influenced the proportion of blood cells (morula cells, hemoblasts) and of multinucleated cells, a new WBR-associated cell type. At 24-h post-amputation we observed enhanced expression of β-catenin (a signaling pathway that plays indispensable roles in cell renewal and regeneration), H3 and PCNA in all cell types of non-irradiated as compared to irradiated fragments. These elevated levels were considerably reduced 9-days later. Since WBR is a highly complex phenomenon, the employment of specific experimental conditions, as UV-B irradiation, alongside blastogenesis (the weekly developmental process), elucidates undisclosed facets of this unique biological occurrence such as transient expression of signature genes.

The role of solar radiation and tidal emersion on oxidative stress and glutathione synthesis in mussels exposed to air.

Preparation for oxidative stress (POS) is a widespread adaptive response to harsh environmental conditions, whose hallmark is the upregulation of antioxidants. In contrast to controlled laboratory settings, animals are exposed to multiple abiotic stressors under natural field conditions. Still, the interplay between different environmental factors in modulating redox metabolism in natural settings remains largely unexplored. Here, we aim to shed light on this topic by assessing changes in redox metabolism in the mussel Brachidontes solisianus naturally exposed to a tidal cycle. We compared the redox biochemical response of mussels under six different natural conditions in the field along two consecutive days. These conditions differ in terms of chronology, immersion/emersion, and solar radiation, but not in terms of temperature. Animals were collected after being exposed to air early morning (7:30), immersed during late morning and afternoon (8:45-15:30), and then exposed to air again late afternoon towards evening (17:45-21:25), in two days. Whole body homogenates were used to measure the activity of antioxidant (catalase, glutathione transferase and glutathione reductase) and metabolic (glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase, isocitrate dehydrogenase and pyruvate kinase) enzymes, reduced (GSH) and disulfide (GSSG) glutathione levels, and oxidative stress markers (protein carbonyl and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances). Air and water temperature remained stable between 22.5°C and 26°C during both days. Global solar radiation (GSR) greatly differed between days, with a cumulative GSR of 15,381 kJ/m2 for day 1 and 5,489 kJ/m2 for day 2, whose peaks were 2,240 kJ/m2/h at 14:00 on day 1 and 952 kJ/m2/h at 12:00 on day 2. Compared with animals underwater, emersion during early morning did not elicit any alteration in redox biomarkers in both days. Air exposure for 4 h in the late afternoon towards evening caused oxidative damage to proteins and lipids and elicited GSH synthesis in animals that had been previously exposed to high GSR during the day. In the following day, when GSR was much lower, exposure to air under the same conditions (duration, time, and temperature) had no effect on any redox biomarker. These findings suggest that air exposure under low-intensity solar radiation is not sufficient to trigger POS in B. solisianus in its natural habitat. Thus, natural UV radiation is possibly a key environmental factor that combined to air exposure induces the POS-response to the stressful event of tidal variation in this coastal species.

Syncarcinogenesis of natural UV radiation and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the development of squamous cell carcinomas of the skin?

Squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) of the skin can be induced by occupational exposures to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), as in tar and soot, or to UV radiation and can be recognized and compensated as occupational diseases. A possible syncarcinogenic effect of these exposures in the development of SCC in humans is under discussion. For the scientific validation of this question, a systematic literature search was conducted using the databases PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. Studies on individuals with SCC of the skin and their precursors as well as occupational, non-occupational, or therapeutic exposure to UV radiation and PAHs were selected. In addition, animal studies with exposure to UV radiation and PAHs were evaluated. After screening the abstracts of 510 identified studies, the full texts of 131 studies were reviewed. None of the epidemiological studies provided robust evidence for a syncarcinogenesis of PAHs and UV radiation in the development of SCC of the skin in humans. Nevertheless, as there are indications for a (super-)additive effect of UV radiation and PAH exposure from animal studies and mechanistic investigations, syncarcinogenesis seems possible. However, quantitative dose-response relationships are lacking which would allow comparison of the onset of an adverse effect between the different exposure levels.

Sulfur radical formation from the tropospheric irradiation of aqueous sulfate aerosols

The sulfate anion radical (SO4•-) is known to be formed in the autoxidation chain of sulfur dioxide and from minor reactions when sulfate or bisulfate ions are activated by OH radicals, NO3 radicals, or iron. Here, we report a source of SO4•-, from the irradiation of the liquid water of sulfate-containing organic aerosol particles under natural sunlight and laboratory UV radiation. Irradiation of aqueous sulfate mixed with a variety of atmospherically relevant organic compounds degrades the organics well within the typical lifetime of aerosols in the atmosphere. Products of the SO4•- + organic reaction include surface-active organosulfates and small organic acids, alongside other products. Scavenging and deoxygenated experiments indicate that SO4•- radicals, instead of OH, drive the reaction. Ion substitution experiments confirm that sulfate ions are necessary for organic reactivity, while the cation identity is of low importance. The reaction proceeds at pH 1-6, implicating both bisulfate and sulfate in the formation of photoinduced SO4•-. Certain aromatic species may further accelerate the reaction through synergy. This reaction may impact our understanding of atmospheric sulfur reactions, aerosol properties, and organic aerosol lifetimes when inserted into aqueous chemistry model mechanisms.

OXIDATIVE STRESS CAUSED BY UV RADIATION AND THE USE OF FTIR METHOD TO STUDY ITS EFFECT ON THE BIOLOGICAL TISSUES

Oxidative stress is caused by an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and the capacity of antioxidant ROS scavenging systems and plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of many diseases. It is connected with cell damage, such as lipid peroxidation of membranes. One important source of oxidative stress is UV radiation, which can come from the natural environment or artificial sources like welding. While sources of artificial UV radiation emit specific wavelengths depending on the application, occupational exposure to natural UV radiation has a continuous spectrum from 290 nm to 400 nm. Oxidative stress can be measured by synchrotron radiation-based Fourier Transform Infrared (SR-FTIR) microspectroscopy. Oxidative effect of UV can be studied on human postoperative tissue. Here we show an in vitro study of the effect of UV C on the oxidative stress in human eye postoperative tissue.

Differential localization of flavonoid glucosides in an aquatic plant implicates different functions under abiotic stress.

Flavonoids may mediate UV protection in plants either by screening of harmful radiation or by minimizing the resulting oxidative stress. To help distinguish between these alternatives, more precise knowledge of flavonoid distribution is needed. We used confocal laser scanning microscopy (cLSM) with the "emission fingerprinting" feature to study the cellular and subcellular distribution of flavonoid glucosides in the giant duckweed (Spirodela polyrhiza), and investigated the fitness effects of these compounds under natural UV radiation and copper sulphate addition (oxidative stress) using common garden experiments indoors and outdoors. cLSM "emission fingerprinting" allowed us to individually visualize the major dihydroxylated B-ring-substituted flavonoids, luteolin 7-O-glucoside and luteolin 8-C-glucoside, in cross-sections of the photosynthetic organs. While luteolin 8-C-glucoside accumulated mostly in the vacuoles and chloroplasts of mesophyll cells, luteolin 7-O-glucoside was predominantly found in the vacuoles of epidermal cells. In congruence with its cellular distribution, the mesophyll-associated luteolin 8-C-glucoside increased plant fitness under copper sulphate addition but not under natural UV light treatment, whereas the epidermis-associated luteolin 7-O-glucoside tended to increase fitness under both stresses across chemically diverse genotypes. Taken together, we demonstrate that individual flavonoid glucosides have distinct cellular and subcellular locations and promote duckweed fitness under different abiotic stresses.

UV Radiation and Its Relation to DNA Methylation in Epidermal Cells: A Review.

DNA methylation is the most studied epigenetic mark, and it can be altered by environmental factors. Among these factors, ultraviolet radiation (UV) is little explored within this context. While the relationship between UV radiation and DNA mutations is clear, little is known about the relationship between UV radiation and epimutations. The present study aimed to perform a literature review to determine the influence of artificial or natural (solar) UV radiation on the global and site-specific methylation profile of epidermal cells. A systematic review of the literature was carried out using the databases PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Science. Observational and intervention studies in cultured cells and animal or human models were included. Most studies showed a relationship between UV radiation and changes in the methylation profile, both global and site-specific. Hypermethylation and hypomethylation changes were detected, which varied according to the studied CpG site. In conclusion, UV radiation can alter the DNA methylation profile in epidermal cells derived from the skin. These data can be used as potential biomarkers for environmental exposure and skin diseases, in addition to being targets for treatments. On the other hand, UV radiation (phototherapy) can also be used as a tool to treat skin diseases. Thus, the data suggest that epigenetic homeostasis can be disrupted or restored by exposure to UV radiation according to the applied wavelength.

Electrospun cellulose acetate fibers for the photodecolorization of methylene blue solutions under natural sunlight

Cellulose acetate (CA) fibers were obtained by electrospinning and their properties analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis. The effect of the polymer concentration on crystallinity and fiber diameter of the obtained material was studied by DSC. The application of the pure polymeric fibers to the discoloration of methylene blue (MB) aqueous solutions in dark and under sunlight irradiation was evaluated with UV–Vis absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopies. Also, the photodegradation of the dye was compared using CA powder and fibers under UV irradiation. The results revealed that the dye molecule discoloration with CA fibers mesh was higher under sunlight irradiation than in dark conditions. The maximum absorption band (664 nm) of MB decreased with the time in the absence and presence of polymer under either solar natural exposition or UV irradiation. The dye organic discoloration efficiency obtained by using electrospun CA mesh was 28% and 98% in dark conditions and under natural solar illumination, respectively. The FTIR showed the interaction of dye organic or sub-products generated with the polymeric component. This work provides a simple method for the discoloration of wastewater effluents using microfibers composed of only one abundant polymeric material, allowing the reduction in the amount of material needed and therefore the manufacturing costs of the adsorbent material.

Behavioral and structural prevention of skin cancer : Implementation and effectiveness

Ultraviolet radiation (UV)-induced malignancies, especially skin cancer, have continued to increase for decades. The main cause is natural and artificial UV radiation. The affected persons and the health care system are heavily burdened. The situation threatens to worsen, as climate change could lead to an increase in UV radiation exposure of the population and, thus, the risk of UV-related cancer in Germany as well. The prevention of UV-related diseases is, therefore, ahealth and radiation protection objective that needs to be considered. Necessary and appropriate prevention measures for the precaution of UV-related cancer are presented. The currently recommended and applied primary behavioral and structural preventive measures and potential, prevention-related relief for the health care system are examined and summarized. Numerous behavioral and structural preventive measures are already being applied. Sustainably designed, multicomponent and personalized behavioral preventive measures in combination with structural prevention modules are effective and have ahigh economic and health-related benefit. The use of modern media and multimedia measures is recommended. Structural prevention measures in addition to behavioral measures enable areduction of the cancer risk caused by UV radiation. The aim must be to establish these measures nationwide for the entire population.

Fenton and solar photo‐Fenton processes in the depuration of wastewater resulting from production of grape juice. A factorial design

AbstractBACKGROUNDGrapes used in the production of juice have high total phenolic content due to the undesirable fermentation process, consequence of the high content of sugar ant fatty acids in grapes, which produce a high amount of ethanol. Therefore, the amount of wastewater with a high concentration of organic matter is an environmental concern related to juice production. We evaluated the potential of the use of these Fenton and photo‐Fenton processes in the depuration of organic matter in the juice production wastewater and determined the factors that affect the treatment.RESULTSWe obtained different levels of organic matter removal, with a higher level for the experimental conditions, that is, a high concentration of H2O2 and Fe+2 and the use of UV irradiation (photo‐Fenton). In this case, COD and polyphenol elimination was 70.2 % and 36.1%, respectively, with juice wastewater under no pretreatment and applying UV irradiation. The most important factor in the removal of COD in juice wastewater was the concentration of Fe+2, followed by H2O2 and the presence of solar UV. The most important factor in the removal of polyphenols is the pretreatment of the juice wastewater, with better results whenthere is no pretreatment. The highest removal of polyphenols was obtained using the water without being pretreated.CONCLUSIONSThe specific energy consumption and the electrical energy per order under the photo‐Fentonprocess was lower than under the Fenton process, indicating a more efficient energy use. This is because the natural UV irradiation enhances the chemical reaction of the oxidation process, producing a higher difference in the concentration of COD and polyphenols in comparison to the process carried out without UV solar irradiation. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry

Novel ammonium dichloroacetates with enhanced herbicidal activity for weed control.

Dichloroacetic acid (DCA) exhibits great potential as an herbicide (nontoxic, easily biodegradable), but its application in agriculture has scarcely been investigated. Since DCA readily undergoes photolysis when exposed to natural light or UV irradiation, there is a large activity loss in controlling weeds. To improve the activity of DCA, we proposed the transformation of DCA into an ionic salt form by using an herbicidal ionic liquids (HILs) strategy. Herein, fifteen novel ammonium dichloroacetates were designed and achieved for the first time. When compared to the anionic precursor DCA, three salts with longer alkyl chains ranging from dodecyl to hexadecyl chains were found to enhance not only the post emergence herbicidal activity but also the rates of activity against some broadleaf weeds under greenhouse conditions. The enhancement was due to the synergistic effect of structural factors, such as the surface activity, solubility and stability arising from their ionic nature. In addition, IL 13 possesses a low phytotoxicity to cotton plants with a favorable selectivity index above 2. This study will be useful for the design of new, high-performance herbicidal formulations.

Solar photo-Fenton reagent with nanostructured iron oxide for Bismarck dye oxidation: an Egyptian apparel case study

In this study, the oxidation of textile effluent containing Bismarck dye (BD) has been carried out via a cost-efficient and eco-friendly heterogeneous photo-Fenton method under natural solar radiations as well as artificial UV source. Hematite nanocrystals that were successfully prepared using a simple sol-gel approach were tested for use as a catalyst in the Fenton process. X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscope techniques were applied to investigate the structural and morphological properties of these nanocrystals. The results showed that the material had a better photocatalytic activity under sunlight irradiation. The process of solar photo-Fenton reagent including nanocrystals was found to be competent for the oxidation of BD compared with the process of using artificial UV irradiations. The oxidation was improved to a great extent from 23 to 60% removal in the treatment time of 60-min irradiation. The dye load increase in wastewater results in a low oxidation rate. The key factor is containing 40 and 400 mg L−1 of hematite nanocrystals and H2O2, respectively, at pH 3.0. Further, the temperature increases increment the reaction rate. The oxidation process follows pseudo-second-order kinetics with activation energy of 1.3 kJ mol−1. Thus, the practical application of such nanocrystals on the Fenton system using natural UV radiation on the real textile effluent signifies that process is highly efficient for a safer environment.

Advances in the Understanding of Skin Cancer: Ultraviolet Radiation, Mutations, and Antisense Oligonucleotides as Anticancer Drugs.

Skin cancer has always been and remains the leader among all tumors in terms of occurrence. One of the main factors responsible for skin cancer, natural and artificial UV radiation, causes the mutations that transform healthy cells into cancer cells. These mutations inactivate apoptosis, an event required to avoid the malignant transformation of healthy cells. Among these deadliest of cancers, melanoma and its ‘younger sister’, Merkel cell carcinoma, are the most lethal. The heavy toll of skin cancers stems from their rapid progression and the fact that they metastasize easily. Added to this is the difficulty in determining reliable margins when excising tumors and the lack of effective chemotherapy. Possibly the biggest problem posed by skin cancer is reliably detecting the extent to which cancer cells have spread throughout the body. The initial tumor is visible and can be removed, whereas metastases are invisible to the naked eye and much harder to eliminate. In our opinion, antisense oligonucleotides, which can be used in the form of targeted ointments, provide real hope as a treatment that will eliminate cancer cells near the tumor focus both before and after surgery.

Ultraviolet radiation exposure among Belgrade high school students: analysis of knowledge, attitudes and behaviour

The incidence of melanoma has been increasing worldwide. Extended UV exposure during childhood or adolescence significantly increases the probability of skin cancer in adulthood. The objective of this study was to analyse knowledge, attitudes and behaviour regarding exposure to natural and artificial UV radiation among Belgrade high school students. The study was conducted using a questionnaire among 549 students of 3rd and 4th grade (17 and 18years of age) in four Belgrade high schools. The questionnaire had 32 questions: questions about gender, date and month of birth and parents' education, nine questions regarding sunbed use, nine questions regarding behaviour in the sun during summer months, four questions regarding personal and family history and skin phototype and seven questions regarding attitude and general knowledge about effects of UV radiation. Assessment of frequency rate and relative numbers was used as methods of descriptive statistics. As many as 39% of participants had used a sunbed at least once, 38% plan on using it in the future. One quarter spends more than 3hours in the sun on the beach during summer without any protection, and only one-third of participants had not experienced sunburn during last summer. Only one-half of students know what melanoma is, while 37% stated that they do not know. General awareness of risk factors regarding sun exposure as well as general knowledge about melanoma is not on a high level among Belgrade high school students. Therefore, besides legislative measures, it is extremely important to conduct adequate education programmes in high schools.

Modeling the natural UV irradiation and comparative UV measurements at Moussala BEO (BG)

Studies of and modeling the impact of natural UV irradiation on the human population are of significant importance for human activity and economics. The sharp increase of environmental problems – extraordinary temperature changes, solar irradiation abnormalities, icy rains – raises the question of developing novel means of assessing and predicting potential UV effects. In this paper, we discuss new UV irradiation modeling based on recent real-time measurements at Moussala Basic Environmental Observatory (BEO) on Moussala Peak (2925 m ASL) in Rila Mountain, Bulgaria, and highlight the development and initial validation of portable embedded devices for UV-A, UV-B monitoring using open-source software architecture, narrow bandpass UV sensors, and the popular Arduino controllers. Despite the high temporal resolution of the VIS and UV irradiation measurements, the results obtained reveal the need of new assumptions in order to minimize the discrepancy with available databases.

Individual polyphenolic profiles and antioxidant activity in sorghum grains are influenced by very low and high solar UV radiation and genotype

Sorghum is becoming more widely recognised around the world as a valuable crop for its polyphenol antioxidant health-promoting properties and adaptation to harsh environments. The antioxidant capacity of diverse polyphenols in sorghum grain can vary with climatic conditions and genotype. To explore this further, the potential role of UV radiation on the profile and concentration of polyphenols was investigated in six diverse sorghum genotypes in a controlled environment facility using natural UV and visible radiation under either UV-transmitting or UV-blocking treatments. The polyphenol content and antioxidant activity were significantly reduced under the UV-blocking treatment, with contents of individual polyphenols differing among the genotypes. This information is valuable for sorghum breeders enabling them to select genotypes and UV growth conditions to produce sorghum grain with target levels of polyphenols and antioxidant capacity for human foods to meet the nutritional and health needs of different consumers.

Degradation Study of Biobased Polyester–Polyurethane and its Nanocomposite Under Natural Soil Burial, UV Radiation and Hydrolytic-Salt Water Circumstances

The current study focuses on the development of a formulation of polyester polyurethane (PEPU) samples using castor oil (CO) modified polyester polyol and partially biobased aliphatic isocyanate. The CO modified polyester polyol was synthesized employing transesterification reaction between CO and diethylene glycol in the presence litharge (PbO) catalyst. Subsequently, the modification of CO was confirmed using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1HNMR) spectra analysis. In the next stage, the biobased polyester polyurethane nanocomposites (PEPUNC) were prepared by incorporating 3 wt% OMMT nanoclay within PEPU through in situ polymerization technique. The produced PEPU was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and 1HNMR spectra analysis. Further, the degradation properties of developed PEPU subjected to soil-burial, UV exposure and hydrolytic-salt water medium were noted by FTIR spectroscopy. Corresponding weight loss, mechanical measurements and morphological studies through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis were studied. The results showed that the addition of OMMT nanoclay within the PEPU matrix produces significant improvement in the degradation rate which indicated the susceptibility of OMMT nanoclay to humidity upon exposure to soil burial. The produced microorganisms from the soil resulted in significant chemical and morphological changes in the entire structure of the PEPU. Additionally, the highest degradation and percentage of weight loss was observed under soil burial as compared to UV exposure and hydrolytic-salt water medium.

Retrospective evaluation of exposure to natural UV radiation: experiences with the online UV history tool in a field study.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and multiple actinic keratoses can be recognized as occupational diseases if the site affected has been subjected to additional occupational UV exposure of at least 40%. An online UV history tool that allows for the quantification of occupational and recreational UV doses was now tested in a field study. Ninety-nine patients with nonmelanoma skin cancer were examined. Patient history with respect to UV exposure was obtained using the online UV history tool. Initial validation was carried out with data from ten additional patients. In the context of a pilot study, the applicability of the tool was assessed using a questionnaire. Overall, patient history revealed a UV exposure between 3,792 and 53,163SEDs. Patients with squamous cell carcinoma, actinic keratoses, or Bowen's disease (n = 22) had significantly higher SED values and were significantly older (73 vs. 66 years) than patients with basal cell carcinoma (n = 77). Occupational UV exposure was reported by 19 patients, two of whom showed an additional occupational UV exposure of more than 40%, which prompted the filing of a (suspected) occupational disease report. With respect to validation, there was evidence of good inter-investigator reliability. The applicability of the tool was rated as good. The online UV history tool enables quick retrospective quantification of occupational and recreational UV exposure in case of suspicion of the occupational disease "cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma or multiple actinic keratoses caused by natural UV radiation".