Comparison of biologically damaging spectral solar ultraviolet radiation at a southern hemisphere sub-tropical site

Parisi, Alfio and Sabburg, Jeff and Kimlin, Michael G. (2003) Comparison of biologically damaging spectral solar ultraviolet radiation at a southern hemisphere sub-tropical site. Physics in Medicine and Biology, 48 (8). N121-N129. ISSN 0031-9155

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Abstract

The first data set of a complete year of biologically damaging spectral UV at a sub-tropical latitude in the SH has been presented. The new data provides a baseline data set against which comparisons can be made in the future to establish if there have been any long term trends in the biologically damaging UV. The general shape of the variation of the daily biologically damaging exposures through the year depends on the relative response of the various action spectra at the different wavelengths. The ratio of the daily erythemal to actinic exposures drops by approximately 20 to 25% from winter to summer. The ratio of the erythemal to DNA exposures drops by approximately 50% over the same period. In contrast, the ratio of the erythemal to plant damage exposures is higher in summer compared to winter. This is due to the changes in the relative proportion of UVA to UVB wavebands and relative responses of the different action spectra. The relative changes for the different action spectra show that the erythemal action spectrum cannot be used as a proxy for other biologically damaging responses.

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Item Type:	Article (Commonwealth Reporting Category C)
Refereed:	Yes
Item Status:	Live Archive
Additional Information:	Physics in Medicine and Biology © copyright 2003 IOP Publishing Ltd. Author's version deposited in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. This is the authors' final pre-publication manuscript.
Faculty / Department / School:	Historic - Faculty of Sciences - Department of Biological and Physical Sciences
Date Deposited:	11 Oct 2007 00:36
Last Modified:	02 Jul 2013 22:36
Uncontrolled Keywords:	UV, erythema, action spectra, biologically damaging UV, DNA, spectrum
Fields of Research :	02 Physical Sciences > 0299 Other Physical Sciences > 029903 Medical Physics 02 Physical Sciences > 0299 Other Physical Sciences > 029904 Synchrotrons; Accelerators; Instruments and Techniques
Identification Number or DOI:	10.1088/0031-9155/48/8/401
URI:	http://eprints.usq.edu.au/id/eprint/1166

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