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. 2023 Mar 23;20(7):5234.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph20075234.

Objectively-Assessed Ultraviolet Radiation Exposure and Sunburn Occurrence

Tammy K Stump  1   2 , Suzanne Fastner  1   2 , Yeonjung Jo  3 , Jonathan Chipman  2   3 , Benjamin Haaland  2   3 , Elizabeth S Nagelhout  4 , Ali P Wankier  2 , Riley Lensink  2 , Angela Zhu  5 , Bridget Parsons  2 , Douglas Grossman  1   2 , Yelena P Wu  1   2
Affiliations

Objectively-Assessed Ultraviolet Radiation Exposure and Sunburn Occurrence

Tammy K Stump et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure is the primary modifiable risk factor for melanoma. Wearable UVR sensors provide a means of quantifying UVR exposure objectively and with a lower burden than self-report measures used in most research. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between detected UVR exposure and reported sunburn occurrence. In this study, a UVR monitoring device was worn by 97 parent-child dyads during waking hours for 14 days to measure instantaneous and accumulated UVR exposure. The results showed that the participants' total UVR exposure was associated with reported sunburn after adjusting for Fitzpatrick skin type and geographic location. It was observed that one standard erythemal dose (SED) increase in the participants' daily total UVR exposure was associated with reported sunburn (an odds ratio (OR) of 1.26 with a 95% CI of 1.13 and 1.41, and p < 0.001 for parents and an OR of 1.28 with a 95% CI of 1.12 and 1.47, and p < 0.001 for children). A one-SED increase in the participants' UVR exposure from 10 am to 4 pm was also associated with reported sunburn (an OR of 1.31 with a 95% CI of 1.15 and 1.49, and p < 0.001 for parents and an OR of 1.33 with a 95% CI of 1.12 and 1.59, and p = 0.001 for children). We found that elevated UVR exposure recordings measured by the UVR sensor were associated with reported sunburn occurrence. Future directions for wearable UVR sensors may include their use as an intervention tool to support in-the-moment sunburn prevention.

Keywords: melanoma; prevention; skin cancer; sunburn; ultraviolet radiation exposure.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Hazard of sunburn in relation to daily total UV exposure.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Hazard of sunburn in relation to daily peak UV exposure.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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