The potential use of a wearable device to monitor ultraviolet radiation exposure in clinical staff

Introduction Measurement of staff radiation exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation in Dermatology and other Departments currently relies on measurements using fixed detecting equipment. Although staff do not usually receive direct UV exposure, they may be exposed through scattered UV radiation from hand & foot units, moveable panels or whole body irradiation units. Purpose The paper aims to investigate whether the ‘Sunbeat’, a novel ambulant UV monitor developed for measurement of personal solar UV exposure, could be used to measure clinical staff UV exposure. Materials and methods The Sunbeat device was compared against a local International Light IL1400 meter calibrated to national standards for unweighted irradiance using banks of both R-UVA and Philips TL01 narrow-band UVB fluorescent tubes with different levels of irradiance for both UVA and UVB under fixed geometry. Simultaneous adjacent measurements were then made of scattered UVA and UVB levels with the Sunbeat device and the local calibrated meter. Individual correction factors were then applied to the local calibrated meter readings to produce eythemally effective irradiance. Results When compared to the local calibrated meter, the Sunbeat device exhibited a linear response for both the measurements in the fixed geometry and ambulant scattered UV measurements. The Sunbeat device could measure scattered UV levels down to approximately 0.1  μ W cm −2 erythemally effective irradiance for both UVA and TL01 UVB. Conclusion The Sunbeat device has the potential to be used as a UV dosimeter for clinical staff. This may aid the demonstration of compliance with national regulations made under the EU Artificial Optical Radiations Directive. Disclosure The Authors do not have any disclosures that may bias their presentation.