Suchergebnisse

Background: Occupational solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure is a skin cancer risk factor. Outdoor workers have long exposure hours and are in need of photoprotection against solar UVR, a Group 1-defined carcinogen. In South Africa, skin cancers account for one third of all histologically-diagnosed cancers. Physiological presentation of non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC) is most common on the head in all population groups. It is expected that occupational exposure plays a role in NMSC aetiology in South Africa, although such data are presently lacking. Recognising solar UVR-inflicted skin cancer as an occupational disease occurs in some countries. We consider the experience of other countries in including NMSC as an occupational disease to draw on lessons learnt, and consider a similar approach for South Africa. Methods: We sourced articles in English on NMSC as an occupational disease. We also sent an open-ended e-mail information request to nine international academic experts from different developed countries. Data on background, legislation, reporting, notification and occupational sectors of concern were analysed. Results: Several countries, e.g. Denmark, include NMSC as an occupational disease. Despite this, under-reporting is still significant. Agriculture, construction and public service sectors report most commonly, compared to other sectors. National awareness campaigns, careful legal management and improved health care services for patients are key. Conclusions: Outdoor workers run an increased risk of developing NMSC. For South Africa to register NMSC as a reportable occupational disease, significant efforts relating to local epidemiology, exposure assessment, legal and insurance management, and policy-making, need to be considered

Background: Occupational solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure is a skin cancer risk factor. Outdoor workers have long exposure hours and are in need of photoprotection against solar UVR, a Group 1-defined carcinogen. In South Africa, skin cancers account for one third of all histologically-diagnosed cancers. Physiological presentation of non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC) is most common on the head in all population groups. It is expected that occupational exposure plays a role in NMSC aetiology in South Africa, although such data are presently lacking. Recognising solar UVR-inflicted skin cancer as an occupational disease occurs in some countries. We consider the experience of other countries in including NMSC as an occupational disease to draw on lessons learnt, and consider a similar approach for South Africa. Methods: We sourced articles in English on NMSC as an occupational disease. We also sent an open-ended e-mail information request to nine international academic experts from different developed countries. Data on background, legislation, reporting, notification and occupational sectors of concern were analysed. Results: Several countries, e.g. Denmark, include NMSC as an occupational disease. Despite this, under-reporting is still significant. Agriculture, construction and public service sectors report most commonly, compared to other sectors. National awareness campaigns, careful legal management and improved health care services for patients are key. Conclusions: Outdoor workers run an increased risk of developing NMSC. For South Africa to register NMSC as a reportable occupational disease, significant efforts relating to local epidemiology, exposure assessment, legal and insurance management, and policy-making, need to be considered

Measurement of solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is important for the assessment of potential beneficial and adverse impacts on the biosphere, plants, animals, and humans. Excess solar UVR exposure in humans is associated with skin carcinogenesis and immunosuppression. Several factors influence solar UVR at the Earth's surface, such as latitude and cloud cover. Given the potential risks from solar UVR there is a need to measure solar UVR at different locations using effective instrumentation. Various instruments are available to measure solar UVR, but some are expensive and others are not portable, both restrictive variables for exposure assessments. Here, we compared solar UVR sensors commercialized at low or moderate cost to assess their performance and quality of measurements against a high-grade Bentham spectrometer. The inter-comparison campaign took place between March 2018 and February 2019 at Saint-Denis, La Réunion. Instruments evaluated included a Kipp&Zonen UVS-E-T radiometer, a Solar Light UV-Biometer, a SGLux UV-Cosine radiometer, and a Davis radiometer. Cloud fraction was considered using a SkyCamVision all-sky camera and the Tropospheric Ultraviolet Visible radiative transfer model was used to model clear-sky conditions. Overall, there was good reliability between the instruments over time, except for the Davis radiometer, which showed dependence on solar zenith angle. The Solar Light UV-Biometer and the Kipp&Zonen radiometer gave satisfactory results, while the low-cost SGLux radiometer performed better in clear sky conditions. Future studies should investigate temporal drift and stability over time. ; This research was funded jointly by the CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique) and the NRF (National Research Foundation) in the framework of the LIA ARSAIO and by the South Africa/France PROTEA Program (project No 42470VA). UV-Indien program is funded by European Union through the PO INTERREG V, by the Reunion Island Council and by the French Government. OPAR station (Observatoire de Physique de l'Atmosphère de La Réunion), and the OSU-R activities are funded by Université de La Réunion and CNRS.