Quantification of Biological Effectiveness of UV Radiation

To assess the risks to human health and ecosystems from an enhanced UV-B radiation, accurate and reliable UV monitoring systems are required that weights the spectral irradiance according to the biological responses under consideration. Biological dosimetry meets these requirements by directly weighting the incident UV components of sunlight in relation to the biological effectiveness of the different wavelengths and to potential interactions between them. Bacteria, viruses and biomolecules have been developed as biological dosimeters. Their responses to environmental UV radiation, indicated as inactivation, mutagenesis or photochemical injury, reflect the UV sensitivity of DNA.