Diseases due to ultraviolet radiation in Antarctic wintering personnel: Analysis of geneses, seasonal change and annual variation

Abstract

The incidences of diseases due to UV radiation in wintering personnel of the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE) were studied. Medical consultations of JARE-39 included 199 cases. 8 of which were due to UV radiation; photo dermatitis, dermatitis, angular cheilosis, cheilosis and UV ophthalmia, all of which were observed near the face. The intensity of UVB radiation from the horizontal direction was measured. It was found that low solar elevation angle and high snow surface reflection enhanced UV radiation in the horizontal direction during the Antarctic summer to equal or more than that observed in the equatorial zone. Prolonged daytime and outdoor work in the Antarctic summer increases exposure to UV radiation. causing diseases due to UV in the Antarctic summer. Of 4233 clinical cases of JARE between 1956 to 1999,the number of UV related diseases was 127 (3.2%). The diseases were observed in spring, summer and autumn with a maximum in spring and no cases in winter. The diseases have been increasing since the 1990s, when the ozone hole was observed. Furthermore the diseases are observed mainly in spring when the ozone hole is in its maximum phase.