Sun exposure at school

Photochemistry and Photobiology, Aug 1999 by Moise, A F, Buttner, P G, Harrison, S L

In general, the results of these studies point toward the fact that even though knowledge and awareness of the adverse effects of prolonged sun exposure is high (naturally and/or through interventions), respective changes in behavior are usually not implied. The present study found that the EED available during routine school breaks is between 27 and 50% of the daily total dose. This is remarkably high and the reason for this is that most break periods fall within 2 h either side of solar noon-a time for which the Queensland Cancer Fund advises to avoid being exposed to solar UVR at all. The extremely high levels of solar UVR in Townsville result in dangerous amounts of UV reaching unprotected body sites of children at school.

There is strong evidence that sun exposure during childhood and adolescence plays an important role in the etiology of skin cancer, in particular cutaneous melanoma, suggesting that solar UVR exposure during the first 20 years of life will increase the risk of developing both nonmelanocytic skin cancer and melanoma significantly (7,28-32). Solar UVR exposure plays a role in the development of melanocytic nevi (33), and children raised in Townsville develop their melanocytic nevi earlier and in higher numbers than elsewhere (33,34). Furthermore, numerous case-control studies have shown that an increased number of melanocytic nevi increases the risk of developing cutaneous melanoma (3540). It is assumed that if the relationship between melanocytic nevus frequency and melanoma risk is the same for children and adolescents as it is for adults, then the pattern of risk is established very early in life in this population (24).

Our study showed that exposure to solar UVR during routine school breaks, and in particular during school outdoor sport activities, was substantial and consequently would add to the risk of subsequent development of skin cancer in Townsville school children. How shade structures in schools are designed has an important impact on the health care of school-aged children. While some public shade structures in Townsville have been assessed using UV instrumentation (41), available guidelines regarding the design of shade structures in schools are not based on measurements (4245). Further data from personal exposure measurements are necessary and a study from that perspective is planned in order to validate the findings reported here.

Acknowledgements-The authors express their thanks to all participating students from the high flyers group at Town High School in Townsville.

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