| Abstrakt: |
The widely observed depletion of stratospheric ozone and the expected increase in surface ultraviolet radiation receipt has raised much concern about consequent health risks, particularly in the form of erythema (sunburn) and non-melanoma skin cancer. This paper presents the findings of a health risk assessment of surface ultraviolet radiation in Durban. The risk of erythema and non-melanoma skin cancer was estimated for four lifestyle-scenarios, viz. a child, an outdoor worker, an indoor worker and a mixed-mode worker. It was shown that the Hazard Quotient for all scenarios was greater than one, indicative of a risk of erythema. Even an indoor worker who is assumed to spend only one hour per day outdoors during the week is at risk, since the exposure usually occurs when the ultraviolet radiation levels are high. The risk of non-melanoma skin cancer in an outdoor worker is almost twice that of an indoor worker. When compared to an indoor worker of a British population, who receives an annual MED dose of approximately 372 MED units, which is fives times less than that of a South African indoor worker, the risk of non-melanoma skin cancer for an outdoor worker in South Africa is emphasised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
