Poster Presentation Skin Cancer 2024

TESTING AND CERTIFICATION OF SUNSCREENS FOR USE IN OCCUPATIONAL SETTINGS (#186)

Claudine Strehl 1
  1. Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance, Sankt Augustin, NORTH RHINE-WESTPHALIA, Germany

The regular use of sunscreens to protect against solar ultarviolet radiation (UVR) in an occupational context represents one of the greatest challenges for the prevention of occupational skin cancer. It is true that sunscreens are only the last link in the chain of protective measures and should only be used as a last resort for areas of the body that cannot be protected by other protective components. On the other hand, they are used to protect areas of skin that must be regarded as relevant sun terraces and therefore at particular risk of developing skin cancer, such as the ears and other parts of the face, e.g. the nose. Sunscreens have so far been developed for private use. When it comes to authorisation for the consumer market, the protective effect against solar UV radiation, the protective effect against the UV-A component of solar radiation and water resistance are of particular relevance. For use in a professional context, however, there are further requirements for the products, which presuppose that they can be used without negatively influencing the professional activity. These requirements were developed and evaluated as part of a research project [1]. Based on these findings, a test principle is currently being developed that will establish the testing and certification of sunscreens for occupational use in the future. This should facilitate the selection and recommendation of products for employers and also significantly increase the acceptance of the products when used in a professional context.

  1. Rocholl M, Weinert P, Bielfeldt S, Laing S, Wilhelm KP, Ulrich C, John SM. New methods for assessing secondary performance attributes of sunscreens suitable for professional outdoor work. J Occup Med Toxicol. 2021 Jul 5;16(1):25. doi: 10.1186/s12995-021-00314-2. PMID: 34225747; PMCID: PMC8256554.