WEDNESDAY, Feb. 18, 2004 (HealthDayNews) -- A person's sun exposure correlates with the dose of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) they receive, says a Danish study in the February issue of the Archives of Dermatology.
UVR exposure is a risk factor for skin cancer.
The study included 285 Danish volunteers, aged 4 to 68, who wore a special device called a dosimeter that measured their UVR exposure while they were outdoors. The dosimeter readings were collected in segments over a three-year span.
The results showed indoor workers received the least UVR exposure and gardeners had the most exposure. Girls received more estimated UVR than boys. Sunbathing and going to the beach increased UVR exposure, and teenagers and children received more than half their total UVR exposure while they were at the beach.
Half of the UVR exposure received by people in the study was measured between noon and 7 p.m.
More information
The American Cancer Society has more about ultraviolet radiation.
