Safety and Health at Work Vol. 12 Issue 2 2021
“Beach Lifeguards0 Sun Exposure and Sun Protection in Spain” (Original article)
Dublin Core
Title
Safety and Health at Work Vol. 12 Issue 2 2021
“Beach Lifeguards0 Sun Exposure and Sun Protection in Spain” (Original article)
“Beach Lifeguards0 Sun Exposure and Sun Protection in Spain” (Original article)
Subject
Beach lifeguards, Dosimeters, Photoprotection, SED, Sun exposure
Description
Background: Sunburn is the main avoidable cause of skin cancer. Beach lifeguards spend many hours
exposed to the effects of solar radiation during their work day, precisely at times of the year when levels
of solar irradiation are highest. The aim of this study is to quantify the risk to beach lifeguards of sun
exposure.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in the Western Costa del Sol, southern
Spain, during the summer of 2018. The research subjects were recruited during a skin cancer prevention course for beach lifeguards. All participants were invited to complete a questionnaire on their habits, attitudes, and knowledge related to sun exposure. In addition, ten were specially monitored using personal dosimeters for three consecutive days, and the results were recorded in a photoprotection diary. A descriptive analysis (mean and standard deviation for the quantitative variables) was performed, and
inter-group differences were evaluated using the ManneWhitney U test.
Results: Two hundred fifteen lifeguards completed the questionnaire, and 109 met the criteria for in-
clusion in this analysis. The mean age was 23.8 years (SD: 5.1), 78.0% were male, 71.5% were phototype III or IV (Fitzpatrick's phototype), and 77.1% had experienced at least one painful sunburn during the
previous summer. The mean daily personal ultraviolet exposure per day, the minimal erythema dose, and the standard erythema dose, in J/m2, were 634.7 [standard deviation (SD): 356.2], 2.5 (SD: 1.4) and 6.35 (SD: 3.6), respectively.
Conclusion: Beach lifeguards receive very high doses of solar radiation during the work day and experience correspondingly high rates of sunburn. Intervention strategies to modify their sun exposure
behavior and working environment are necessary to reduce the risk of skin cancer for these workers and
to promote early diagnosis of the disease.
exposed to the effects of solar radiation during their work day, precisely at times of the year when levels
of solar irradiation are highest. The aim of this study is to quantify the risk to beach lifeguards of sun
exposure.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in the Western Costa del Sol, southern
Spain, during the summer of 2018. The research subjects were recruited during a skin cancer prevention course for beach lifeguards. All participants were invited to complete a questionnaire on their habits, attitudes, and knowledge related to sun exposure. In addition, ten were specially monitored using personal dosimeters for three consecutive days, and the results were recorded in a photoprotection diary. A descriptive analysis (mean and standard deviation for the quantitative variables) was performed, and
inter-group differences were evaluated using the ManneWhitney U test.
Results: Two hundred fifteen lifeguards completed the questionnaire, and 109 met the criteria for in-
clusion in this analysis. The mean age was 23.8 years (SD: 5.1), 78.0% were male, 71.5% were phototype III or IV (Fitzpatrick's phototype), and 77.1% had experienced at least one painful sunburn during the
previous summer. The mean daily personal ultraviolet exposure per day, the minimal erythema dose, and the standard erythema dose, in J/m2, were 634.7 [standard deviation (SD): 356.2], 2.5 (SD: 1.4) and 6.35 (SD: 3.6), respectively.
Conclusion: Beach lifeguards receive very high doses of solar radiation during the work day and experience correspondingly high rates of sunburn. Intervention strategies to modify their sun exposure
behavior and working environment are necessary to reduce the risk of skin cancer for these workers and
to promote early diagnosis of the disease.
Creator
Magdalena de Troya Martín, Nuria Blázquez Sánchez, Cristina García Harana, Ma Carmen Alarcón Leiva, José Aguilera Arjona, Francisco Rivas Ruiz, Ma Victoria de Gálvez Aranda
Publisher
Elsevier Korea LLC
Date
June 2021
Contributor
Sri Wahyuni
Format
PDF
Language
English
Type
Text
Coverage
Safety and Health at Work Vol. 12 Issue 2 2021
Files
Citation
Magdalena de Troya Martín, Nuria Blázquez Sánchez, Cristina García Harana, Ma Carmen Alarcón Leiva, José Aguilera Arjona, Francisco Rivas Ruiz, Ma Victoria de Gálvez Aranda, “Safety and Health at Work Vol. 12 Issue 2 2021
“Beach Lifeguards0 Sun Exposure and Sun Protection in Spain” (Original article),” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed November 21, 2024, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/2128.
“Beach Lifeguards0 Sun Exposure and Sun Protection in Spain” (Original article),” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed November 21, 2024, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/2128.