Solar UV in Automobiles: Ambient and Personal Exposures

Abstract

Changes in the behavior and activity patterns of humans in today’s modern society have altered the patterns of solar UV exposures to humans. Apart from outdoor workers, we have gone from an agricultural outdoor activity based lifestyle to a way of life that is predominantly indoors and technology driven with the periods outdoors due to work breaks and leisure and recreational activities. As a result, the patterns of human UV exposures are changing. In addition to the solar UV exposures while outdoors, there are solar UV exposures resulting from solar UV filtered through window glass as discussed in the previous chapter. Additionally, the structure of our cities is based on neighborhoods located at a distance from the central business district of the cities. These larger distances from home to office are usually traveled via a motor vehicle or other forms of public transport and which may result in solar UV exposures.