CAREX Canada, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research, CancerControl Alberta, Alberta Health Services, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Environ Res. 2020 Oct;189:109902. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109902. Epub 2020 Jul 11.
Outdoor workers are at risk of prolonged and high solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure, which is known to cause skin cancer. The objectives of this study were to characterize the UVR exposure levels of outdoor workers in Alberta, Canada, and to investigate what factors may contribute to their exposure.
This study collected objective solar UVR measurements from outdoor workers primarily in Alberta during the summer of 2019. Workers were recruited via the management or health and safety teams from building trade unions and employers. Calibrated, electronic UVR dosimeters were worn by workers on their hardhats, wrists, or lapels for five working days. Data on workers' demographics, jobs, sun protection behaviors, and personal risk factors were collected using questionnaires, and meteorological data for each sampling day were noted. Mean daily exposure measured as the standard erythemal dose (SED) was calculated and compared to the international occupational exposure limit guideline (1.3 SED). Marginal models were developed to evaluate potential determinants of occupational solar UVR exposure.
In total, 883 measurements were collected from 179 workers. On average, workerswere exposed to 1.93 SED (range: 0.03-16.63 SED) per day. Just under half of workers (45%) were exposed to levels exceeding the international exposure limit guideline. In the bivariate analyses, landscape and maintenance workers, as well as trade and recreation workers, had the highest levels of exposure (average: 2.64 and 1.84 SED, respectively). Regional variations were observed, with the "other" cities/regions (outside of Edmonton and Calgary) experiencing the highest average levels (2.60 SED). Workers who placed the dosimeters on their hardhats experienced higher levels compared to the other groups. Exposure was highest on sunny and mixed days. Education, trade, city, dosimeter placement, forecast, hair colour, and number of hours outside were included in the final exposure model, of which trade, dosimeter placement, forecast, and number of hours outside at work were statistically significant.
Exposure to elevated solar UVR levels is common among outdoor workers in Alberta. The study findings can help inform future monitoring studies and exposure reduction initiatives aimed at protecting workers.
户外工作者面临长时间和高强度的太阳紫外线（UVR）暴露，已知这会导致皮肤癌。本研究的目的是描述加拿大艾伯塔省户外工作者的 UVR 暴露水平，并探讨哪些因素可能导致他们暴露于 UVR。
本研究于 2019 年夏季主要在艾伯塔省从户外工作者那里收集了客观的太阳 UVR 测量值。通过建筑工会和雇主的管理层或健康与安全团队招募工人。工人将经过校准的电子 UVR 剂量计戴在安全帽、手腕或翻领上，持续工作 5 天。使用问卷收集了工人的人口统计学、工作、防晒行为和个人风险因素的数据，并记录了每个采样日的气象数据。根据标准红斑剂量（SED）计算平均每日暴露量，并与国际职业暴露限值指南（1.3 SED）进行比较。开发了边际模型来评估职业太阳 UVR 暴露的潜在决定因素。
共从 179 名工人中收集了 883 个测量值。平均而言，工人每天暴露于 1.93 SED（范围：0.03-16.63 SED）。近一半的工人（45%）暴露于超过国际暴露限值指南的水平。在单变量分析中，景观和维护工人以及贸易和娱乐工人的暴露水平最高（平均：2.64 和 1.84 SED）。观察到区域差异，“其他”城市/地区（埃德蒙顿和卡尔加里以外）的平均水平最高（2.60 SED）。将剂量计戴在安全帽上的工人比其他组的暴露水平更高。在晴天和混合天气条件下暴露水平最高。教育程度、贸易、城市、剂量计放置位置、预报、头发颜色和户外工作小时数被纳入最终暴露模型，其中贸易、剂量计放置位置、预报和户外工作小时数在统计学上是显著的。
艾伯塔省户外工作者暴露于高水平的太阳 UVR 很常见。研究结果可以为未来旨在保护工人的监测研究和减少暴露的举措提供信息。
