Some surfaces are known to reflect a significant amount of incident ultraviolet radiation (UVR).1 Notably, the ultraviolet albedo of sand and snow have been measured as high as 20% and 90% respectively.2 It is commonly understood by snow sport enthusiasts, alpinists and scientists that this feature of snow leads to an increased risk of severe erythema.3-5 However, there is an absence of understanding in the scientific literature and by the general public of how the albedo of sand influences total personal UV radiation exposure and its anatomical distribution.
In this study a full-body nylon suit was equipped with 31 Scienterra personal UV radiation dosimeters placed at strategic anatomical locations. The suit was then worn outdoors for periods of at least 30 minutes in sand and grass locales to record the UV exposure at each of the 31 anatomical sites. The use of a human subject instead of a manikin more accurately mimics the typical exposure situation of an individual, providing measurements that are intimately related to human health risks and allowing poignant public health messaging.
Preliminary measurements have shown that, in addition to an increase in the total radiation received by the body in a high albedo environment, the distribution of the exposure is altered with the legs and torso receiving a noticeably larger dose in sand environments compared to grasslands. Further experiments aim to enhance the statistical power of these observations and the geographic, meteorological and surface diversity of the measurements.