| Agent Name |
Radiation, solar |
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| Major Category |
Radiation Hazards |
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| Category |
Radiation |
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| Description |
The sun is the major source of ultraviolet radiation (UVR), divided into UVC (100-280 nm), UVB (280-315 nm) and UVA (315-400). Of the solar UVR reaching the earth, 95% is UVA, and 5% is UVB. UVC is filtered out by the atmosphere. [IARC: Solar & UVR] |
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| Sources/Uses |
Workers exposed to sunlight and UVR include outdoor workers, welders, and workers exposed to germicidal UV light, lasers, and drying/curing processes. [LaDou, p. 134-40] See the TLVs for workers exposed to ultraviolet radiation from "arcs, gas and vapor discharges, fluorescent and incandescent sources, and solar radiation" to prevent burns and photokeratitis. [ACGIH] |
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| Comments |
Solar radiation is a known occupational carcinogen (outdoor workers) associated with increased risk for malignant melanoma and other skin cancers. [Siemiatycki, p. 326] UVR can also cause photokeratoconjunctivitis (welder's flash), cataracts, skin burns, and both photoirritant and photoallergic contact dermatitis (PICD and PACD). [LaDou, p. 137-40] See chemicals, drugs, plants, and foods in this database that can cause PICD and PACD. |
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| Reference Link |
Solar and Ultraviolet Radiation (IARC Summary & Evaluation, , ) |
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| Exposure Assessment |
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| Skin Designation (ACGIH) |
Not evaluated |
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| Explanatory Notes |
See the detailed tables in "Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents." [ACGIH] |
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| Reference Link |
NTP: Ultraviolet Radiation Related Exposures |
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| Adverse Effects |
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| Dermatotoxin |
Skin Burns |
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| IARC Carcinogen |
Known Carcinogen |
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| Links to Other NLM Databases |
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