Quantification of ocular biologically effective UV exposure for different rotation angle ranges based on data from a...

Human outdoor activities are randomly orientated at different angles to the sun. To quantify the ocular UV and biologically effective UV (UVBE; i.e. the ocular UV irradiance exposure for photokeratitis (UVpker), photoconjunctivitis (UVpcon), and cataract (UVcat)) exposure for different rotation angle ranges, a rotating manikin was used to monitor the ocular UV exposure at different rotation angles in clear skies during July 2010 in Sanya, China. As a result, the ocular UV and UVBE irradiance was directly influenced by the rotation angle variations, primarily for the 120° rotation angle ranges facing the morning and afternoon sun when the solar elevation was lower than 60°; during these times, the UV and UVBE spectral irradiance decreased as the rotation angle increased. When compared to the 360° rotation angle ranges (which were considered to be the average exposure situation), the cumulative ocular UVBE for 60°, 120° and 180° rotation angle ranges were maximally 91% (UVcat), 94% (UVpker) and 121% (UVpcon); 71% (UVcat), 74% (UVpker) and 95% (UVpcon); 42%(UVcat), 45%(UVpker) and 55% (UVpcon) higher respectively. Meanwhile, the cumulative ocular UVBE for the 180° rotation angle ranges facing away from the sun were 46% (UVpker), 59% (UVpcon) and 45% (UVcat) lower.