Osterwalder Uli, Rohwer Hauke
Ciba Speciality Chemicals, Basel, Switzerland.
Recent Results Cancer Res. 2002;160:62-9. doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-59410-6_9.
The assessment of UV transmittance of clothing and the determination of the UV protection factor (UPF) are now well established and the influencing factors such as type of fiber, color, and fabric construction are known. Quick and reliable instruments to measure UV transmittance are crucial. Besides expensive scientific laboratory instruments, a low-cost UV meter is now available for this purpose. The questions arise as to what can be done about a given garment and whether there are ways to improve textiles by the consumer. The many opportunities to improve UV protection of clothing along the textile chain of manufacturing are discussed. The latest possibility for improving the UV-protective properties of clothing is now available at the fabric care stage in every household. A UV absorber can be brought into contact with a fabric during the wash or rinse cycle of a laundry operation. The high UV transmittance of 30% of a thin, bleached cotton swatch in the dry state (UPF 3), can be reduced tenfold to about 3% (UPF >30) in ten washes cycles. This is more than the effect achieved by dyestuffs. The detergent should contain about 0.1-0.3% of the special UV absorber. The same effect can be achieved as early as after one wash cycle with a higher concentration provided by a special laundry additive. Yet another form of application is via rinse cycle fabric conditioner. To make these new types of improvement of fabrics visible the Skin Cancer Foundation now provides the possibility for laundry products to qualify for the "Seal of Recommendation".
衣物紫外线透过率的评估以及紫外线防护系数（UPF）的测定现已成熟，纤维类型、颜色和织物结构等影响因素也已为人所知。测量紫外线透过率的快速可靠仪器至关重要。除了昂贵的科学实验室仪器外，现在有一种低成本的紫外线计可用于此目的。对于给定的衣物能做些什么，以及消费者是否有办法改进纺织品，这些问题随之而来。本文讨论了在纺织品制造产业链中改善衣物紫外线防护的诸多机会。现在，在每个家庭的织物护理阶段都有了改善衣物紫外线防护性能的最新可能性。在洗衣操作的洗涤或漂洗过程中，可以使紫外线吸收剂与织物接触。一块薄的漂白棉样布在干燥状态下紫外线透过率高达30%（UPF为3），在经过十次洗涤循环后可降低到十分之一左右，约为3%（UPF>30）。这比染料所达到的效果还要好。洗涤剂应含有约0.1 - 0.3%的特殊紫外线吸收剂。使用特殊的洗衣添加剂提供更高浓度时，早在一次洗涤循环后就能达到同样的效果。另一种应用形式是通过漂洗用织物柔顺剂。为了使这些新型的织物改进效果显现出来，皮肤癌基金会现在为洗衣产品提供了获得“推荐标志”的可能性。
