Actinic ultraviolet exposures to humans assessed with a dosimetric technique

A spectrum evaluator based on a system of four materials has been applied to the evaluation of actinic ultraviolet exposures to humans. The exposures were evaluated between early morning and near noon in summer and the actinic irradiances calculated ranged from 3 muW cm-2 to 5 muW cm-2. Simultaneously, the broad band irradiances which induced the actinic exposures and/or the biologically effective exposures for any other process may be evaluated with the method. The erythemal exposures ranged from 13 to 23 muW cm-2. The method can be useful both for solar UV studies and research with UV lamps which possess radiation wavelengths shorter than 295 nm where the actinic and erythemal action spectra differ significantly.