Dual calibrated dosimeter for simultaneous measurements of erythemal and vitamin D effective solar ultraviolet radiation.

A miniaturized ultraviolet radiation (UV) dosimeter based on polyphenylene oxide (PPO) has been dual calibrated for both erythemal and vitamin D effective exposures (UVB 280 - 320 nm) over extended periods up to five days. Optimal human health requires a balanced amount of UVB exposure as both too much and too little have different but serious potential health consequences. Dosimetry is an established method of measuring specific UV exposures to an object or subject. PPO dosimeters have previously been used to measure the erythemally effective UV exposure. An extension of this use is to dual calibrate the miniaturized dosimeter which will also enable measurement of vitamin D effective exposures. By calibration to the erythemal and vitamin D effective action spectra, PPO dosimeters were able to record both types of biologically effective exposure as both are active within the UVB waveband. Dose response tests were conducted in each season by exposure to solar UV with the corresponding dual calibrations made for each season. The calibration provided an R(2) of 0.95-0.99 for erythemal UV and an R(2) of 0.99 for vitamin D effective UV. The successful outcome of this testing has established that PPO is suitable for use as a long term, dual calibrated dosimeter provided the film is seasonally calibrated. This enables one dosimeter to provide two sets of exposure results. The combination of dual calibration and the long term exposure potential of PPO makes the PPO dosimeter more versatile and increases the scope of UV field research on erythemal UV and vitamin D effective UV in the future.