Human Exposure to Ultraviolet Radiation [antikvár]

The initiative In late 1984 within the International Non-Ionizing Radiation Committee (INIRC) of the International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA) the idea was conceived to hold an international meeting on ultraviolet radiation. Several national and international bodies had studied this subject and issued recommendations on limiting the risks from exposure to UV radiation or were in the process of developing them. These widespread efforts did not come about just by accident. The possible depletion of the atmospheric ozone layer with its accompanying increase in levels of ambient UV radiation raised the question of the impact of UV radiation on the environment and on public health. Furthermore, in industrialized countries people spend more and more time outdoors in sunny locations or ski-resorts and a non-negligible part of the population uses sunbeds and similar appliances to get a tanned skin. The increased UV exposure related to this trend may result in more skin carcinomas and some people worry that the rising incidence of malignant melanoma is due to more UV radiation received by the skin. Therefore the time felt ripe for a discussion among physical, biological and medical scientists together with representatives from industry, consumer organisations and policy-making bodies. Such a gathering would be able to assess the present state of scientific knowledge about UV effects in the human skin and eyes, including possible beneficial effects. But it would also create an opportunity for 'translating' the scientific data into practical recommendations on which rational regulations might be based. The initiative of the INIRC was taken up by the Dutch Ministries responsible for Public Health and for the Environment, together with the Commission of the European Communities. The Health Council of the Netherlands, which had recently advised the Dutch government on ultraviolet radiation, provided the scientific secretariat. The IRPA remained involved in the preparation of the seminar through the participation of the Netherlands Society for Radiation Protection. The seminar So from 23 to 25 March 1987, 130 participants from some 20 countries discussed the effects of ultraviolet radiation on human health. They then looked into the risks associated with the actual exposures, studied in what way people may protect themselves and finally reflected about the regulations proposed or in existence in different countries.