Solar UV Radiation in the Tropics: Human Exposure at Reunion Island (21° S, 55° E) during Summer Outdoor Activities

Jean-Maurice Cadet, Hassan Bencherif, Nicolas Cadet, Kévin Lamy, Thierry Portafaix, Matthias Belus, Colette Brogniez, Frédérique Auriol, Jean-Marc Metzger and Caradee Y. Wright
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Jean-Maurice Cadet: LACy, Laboratoire de l’Atmosphère et des Cyclones (UMR 8105 CNRS, Université de La Réunion, Météo-France), Saint-Denis de La Réunion 97744, France
Hassan Bencherif: LACy, Laboratoire de l’Atmosphère et des Cyclones (UMR 8105 CNRS, Université de La Réunion, Météo-France), Saint-Denis de La Réunion 97744, France
Nicolas Cadet: Faculté de Lettres et Sciences Humaines, Université de La Réunion, Saint-Denis de La Réunion 97744, France
Kévin Lamy: LACy, Laboratoire de l’Atmosphère et des Cyclones (UMR 8105 CNRS, Université de La Réunion, Météo-France), Saint-Denis de La Réunion 97744, France
Thierry Portafaix: LACy, Laboratoire de l’Atmosphère et des Cyclones (UMR 8105 CNRS, Université de La Réunion, Météo-France), Saint-Denis de La Réunion 97744, France
Matthias Belus: Conseil Régional de La Réunion, 5 Avenue René Cassin, Sainte-Clotilde 97490, La Réunion, France
Colette Brogniez: Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8518–LOA–Laboratoire d’Optique Atmosphérique, F-59000 Lille, France
Frédérique Auriol: Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8518–LOA–Laboratoire d’Optique Atmosphérique, F-59000 Lille, France
Jean-Marc Metzger: Observatoire des Sciences de l’Univers de La Réunion, UMS 3365, 97744 Saint-Denis de La Réunion, France
Caradee Y. Wright: Department of Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 21, 1-12

Abstract: Reunion Island is a popular tourist destination with sandy beaches, an active volcano (Piton de la Fournaise), and Piton des Neiges, the highest and most dominant geological feature on the island. Reunion is known to have high levels of solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) with an ultraviolet index (UVI) which can reach 8 in winter and 16 in summer (climatological conditions). UVR has been linked to skin cancer, melanoma, and eye disease such as cataracts. The World Health Organization (WHO) devised the UVI as a tool for expressing UVR intensity. Thresholds ranging from low (UVI 1–2) to extreme (UVI > 11) were defined depending on the risk to human health. The purpose of the study was to assess UVR exposure levels over three of the busiest tourist sites on the island. UVR was measured over several hours along popular hiking trails around Piton de la Fournaise (PDF), Piton des Neiges (PDN), and St-Leu Beach (LEU). The results were compared with those recorded by the local UV station at Saint-Denis. In addition, cumulative standard erythemal dose (SED) was calculated. Results showed that UVI exposure at PDF, PDN, and LEU were extreme (>11) and reached maximum UVI levels of 21.1, 22.5, and 14.5, respectively. Cumulative SEDs were multiple times higher than the thresholds established by the Fitzpatrick skin phototype classification. UVI measurements at the three study sites showed that Reunion Island is exposed to extreme UVR conditions. Public awareness campaigns are needed to inform the population of the health risks related to UVR exposure.

Keywords: solar UV radiation; tropics; UV exposure; human health; mountain; volcano; beach; hike (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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