ICEPURE-The Impact of Climatic and Environmental factors on Personal Ultraviolet Radiation Exposure and human health

Duration

2009-2012

Coordinator

King's College, UK

Funded by

European Comission

ICE-PURE will determine the adverse and beneficial health effects of personal UVR exposure and their relationships with climatic and environmental factors that modify the solar UVR spectrum. Date and time stamped personal electronic wristwatch dosimeters will be worn to measure individual UVR exposure over extended periods. Satellite and ground station data will be gathered to establish terrestrial UVR spectral irradiance, cloud, albedo, ozone and aerosol data, at the locations and times of exposure.

These dosimeters will be used in field studies in working, water, beach and snow situations in four different countries (Polland, Denmark, Austria and Spain), including studies with children.

The interaction between the personal exposure parameters and the satellite and ground station data will enable the development of a humanized radiative transfer model to assess the future impact of climate change on UVR exposure. This is in contrast to previous models that assume exposure to a given fraction of ambient UVR.

We will also determine the effect of UVR exposure on DNA damage and immunity in field conditions. Furthermore, the relationship between UVR exposure and vitamin D status will be determined, thus enabling a direct correlation between important risk and benefit will determine the adverse and beneficial health effects of personal UVR exposure and their relationships with climatic and environmental factors that

modify the solar UVR spectrum.