Dosimeter for the measurement of UV exposures related to melanoma induction

Abstract

This paper reports on the development of a dosimeter for the measurement of biologically effective UV exposures related to melanoma induction. The melanoma (UVMel) dosimeter is based on the combination of polysulfone and nalidixic acid. This research found that the combination of these photosensitive chromophores reacts to UV wavelengths from 290 to 390 nm. It was found that a large change in optical absorbance occurred at 345 nm when the dosimeter was employed to quantify the solar UV waveband. Preliminary results indicate that this UVMel dosimeter can measure exposures of more than 189 kJ/m2 of biologically effective weighted solar UV radiation with an inter-dosimeter variability of no more than 5%.