Solar UV radiation in the tropics : human exposure at Reunion Island (21 degrees S, 55 degrees E) during summer outdoor activities

dc.contributor.authorCadet, Jean-Maurice
dc.contributor.authorBencherif, Hassan
dc.contributor.authorCadet, Nicolas
dc.contributor.authorLamy, Kevin
dc.contributor.authorPortafaix, Thierry
dc.contributor.authorBelus, Matthias
dc.contributor.authorBrogniez, Colette
dc.contributor.authorAuriol, Frederique
dc.contributor.authorMetzger, Jean-Marc
dc.contributor.authorWright, Caradee Yael
dc.date.accessioned2021-05-14T06:15:17Z
dc.date.available2021-05-14T06:15:17Z
dc.date.issued2020-11
dc.description.abstractReunion Island is a popular tourist destination with sandy beaches, an active volcano (Piton de la Fournaise), and Piton des Neiges, the highest and most dominant geological feature on the island. Reunion is known to have high levels of solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) with an ultraviolet index (UVI) which can reach 8 in winter and 16 in summer (climatological conditions). UVR has been linked to skin cancer, melanoma, and eye disease such as cataracts. The World Health Organization (WHO) devised the UVI as a tool for expressing UVR intensity. Thresholds ranging from low (UVI 1–2) to extreme (UVI > 11) were defined depending on the risk to human health. The purpose of the study was to assess UVR exposure levels over three of the busiest tourist sites on the island. UVR was measured over several hours along popular hiking trails around Piton de la Fournaise (PDF), Piton des Neiges (PDN), and St-Leu Beach (LEU). The results were compared with those recorded by the local UV station at Saint-Denis. In addition, cumulative standard erythemal dose (SED) was calculated. Results showed that UVI exposure at PDF, PDN, and LEU were extreme (>11) and reached maximum UVI levels of 21.1, 22.5, and 14.5, respectively. Cumulative SEDs were multiple times higher than the thresholds established by the Fitzpatrick skin phototype classification. UVI measurements at the three study sites showed that Reunion Island is exposed to extreme UVR conditions. Public awareness campaigns are needed to inform the population of the health risks related to UVR exposure.en_ZA
dc.description.departmentGeography, Geoinformatics and Meteorologyen_ZA
dc.description.librarianpm2021en_ZA
dc.description.sponsorshipThe CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), the South Africa/France PROTEA Program, the South African Medical Research Council and the National Research Foundation. UV-Indien Network is funded jointly by European cooperation programme PO InterregV and Regional Council of Reunion Island.en_ZA
dc.description.urihttp://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerphen_ZA
dc.identifier.citationCadet, J.-M.; Bencherif, H.; Cadet, N.; Lamy, K.; Portafaix, T.; Belus, M.; Brogniez, C.; Auriol, F.; Metzger, J.-M.; Wright, C.Y. Solar UV Radiation in the Tropics: Human Exposure at Reunion Island (21° S, 55° E) during Summer Outdoor Activities. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2020, 17, 8105. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17218105.en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn1660-4601 (online)
dc.identifier.other10.3390/ijerph17218105
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/79898
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherMDPIen_ZA
dc.rights© 2020 by the authors. Licensee: MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license.en_ZA
dc.subjectSolar UV radiationen_ZA
dc.subjectTropicsen_ZA
dc.subjectUV exposureen_ZA
dc.subjectHuman healthen_ZA
dc.subjectMountainen_ZA
dc.subjectVolcanoen_ZA
dc.subjectBeachen_ZA
dc.subjectHikeen_ZA
dc.subjectUltraviolet radiation (UVR)en_ZA
dc.titleSolar UV radiation in the tropics : human exposure at Reunion Island (21 degrees S, 55 degrees E) during summer outdoor activitiesen_ZA
dc.typeArticleen_ZA

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