Source: Textile Review


Acute and cumulative exposure to solar ultravioletradiation (UVR) is major cause of skin cancer. Other harmful effects of UVR onthe skin are erythema or sunburn, photo ageing, and suppression of the immunesystem. With the alarming increase in the rate of ozone layer depletion in theearth's atmosphere, the risks involved due to prolonged exposure to solar UVradiation are increasing day by day. Hence it becomes imperative to protect thehuman skin and other materials from harmful effects of solar UV radiation.


Acute and cumulative exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation(UVR) is major cause of skin cancer. Other harmful effects of UVR on the skinare erythema or sunburn, photo ageing, and suppression of the immune system.Almost all the radiation of wavelength below 290 nm is filtered out by theozone layer in earth's atmosphere. The UV part of the solar radiation (290400nm) is beneficial to human beings in small doses; however large doses,especially in the short UVB range (280-375 nm) may cause sunburns, skin cancer,photokeratitis, photodermatosis etc. In addition to its deleterious effects onhuman beings, it also deteriorates the material properties of apparel,upholstery, draperies, carpets, furniture, paints, electronic parts, buildingconstruction materials - wood, plastic panels etc. and other articles ofoutdoor use and limiting their durability and life span. The solar radiationalso consists of Infra Red OR) region, which causes the temperature to rise,causing discomfort to persons working in outdoor situations. With the alarmingincrease in the rate of ozone layer depletion in the earth's atmosphere, therisks involved due to prolonged exposure to solar UV radiation are increasingday by day. Hence it becomes imperative to protect the human skin and othermaterials from harmful effects of solar UVradiation.


Sun light is the source of life for any living being onearth. It reaches the surface of the earth at a wavelength between 290 and 3000nm. Radiation between 290 and 400 nm referred to as ultraviolet or UVradiation. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation is a risk factor for the formationof malignant neoplasm of the skin and for skin ageing. In recent years, theincidence of all, especially of malignant, skin tumors has strongly increased.The UV part of the solar radiation (290-400 nm) is beneficial to human beingsin small doses; however large doses, especially in the short UVB range (280-315nm) may cause sunburns, skin cancer, photo keratitis, photodermatosis etc. Theepidemiologically most effective methods of UV protection are avoidance of sunexposure and the use of physical means, in particular of sun protectivetextiles.


Sunscreen has been used for reducing human exposure toharmful solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Methods for protection against theharmful effects of UV on human skin have been proposed by a number of authors(Foot et al. 1993, Diffey, Cheeseman 1992, McGee and Williams 1992, Standfordet al. 1995, Wong 1994). The application of these methods indeed wouldcertainly reduce the level of exposure but it is essential that these methodsare used with sufficient understanding of scientific data. So, UV protection byfabrics has been a topic for past few years but it remains a complex subject.Even today there are not many people (even in textile industry) who fullyunderstand the details. Clothing is perceived as a good means of sunprotection, but not all apparel is sufficiently protective against UVradiation. As it deteriorates the material properties of apparel, upholstery,draperies, carpets, furniture, paints, electronics parts, building constructionmaterials- wood, plastic panels etc and other articles of outdoor use andlimiting their life span. The solar radiation also consists of infra red region,which causes the temperature to rise, causing discomfort to persons working inoutdoor situations.


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About the Authors:


AnkurSaxena is an Assistant professor, Department of Fashion Technology, NIFT Delhiand Ankita Srivastava is a Research Scholar, Department of Textile Technology,IT Delhi.