Beneficial vitamin D3 producing UV compared to damaging overexposure

Abstract

The measured UV radiation in full sun and in shade and how this relates to vitamin D3 exposures for various latitudes throughout Australia is reported. Calibrated spectral and dosimetric measurements were employed to measure the UV radiation in the shade of numerous shade environments for varying solar zenith angles and seasons. This was for exposures to the horizontal, 45o and vertical planes; as well as to specific anatomical sites for the solar zenith angle range of approximately 5o to 80o and provides a comprehensive data set of the vitamin D3 exposures and the damaging UV exposures. This research indicates that an improved approach to optimise UV exposures for the production of vitamin D3 is to utilise diffuse UV under shade in and around the middle of the day.