#Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency

[shiningthroughpcos]

Understanding Laser Treatment: Fitzpatrick Skin Types and How Laser Energy Targets Melanin

Hello again! If you’ve been following my posts, you’re now familiar with the ins and outs of PCOS and laser-based hair reduction (LBHR). Today, we’ll go a bit deeper into the science behind LBHR. Don’t worry, the technical details like laser settings are for the professionals to handle! Howeverrr, understanding the basic principles of how laser treatments work can help you maximise your results. Not only does this knowledge empower you during your sessions, but it also reinforces the importance of sticking to your post-care routine to ensure the best possible outcome. Today, we’re specifically focusing on how lasers work with different skin types and why cooling methods during your laser session are essential to safe and effective treatment to keep the skin safe

Cooling Methods During Laser Treatment

Throughout your laser session, cooling may be applied either with a cold air attachment or a cooling gel. Both are crucial for minimising discomfort and preventing thermal (heat) damage to the skin. Erythema (redness) and perifollicular oedema (swelling around the hair follicles) are completely normal signs of effective treatment. In fact, we look for these indicators as confirmation that the laser energy has been adequately absorbed by the hair follicles, leading to the long-term reduction we’re after.

Cooling is a vital step during laser treatments, helping to reduce trapped heat in the treatment area and minimise discomfort. Whether through cold air attachments or cooling gel, this process helps protect the skin and prevent overheating. For those with darker skin types, clinical endpoints—such as redness or swelling—might be delayed due to the skin's color. This is why cooling is especially important to ensure safety and effectiveness during and after the session.

Understanding Skin Types: The Fitzpatrick Scale

When discussing laser treatments, we often refer to the Fitzpatrick Skin Type rating. This scale isn’t perfect, but it serves as a useful tool to gauge how someone’s skin might react to UV exposure. FST goes beyond just looking at your skin’s current appearance. It’s about how your skin responds to UV exposure, considering your ethnic background and potential to pigment. 

For example, I grew up in the Middle East in a very hot climate and was deeply tanned as a child. Now, I have paler skin, but that doesn’t mean I can be treated using the same settings as someone with blonde hair and blue eyes who burns incredibly easily under the sun, or even someone from the same background as me who has much darker skin. Each of us reacts differently based on our skin’s potential to pigment.

This scale helps clinicians assess the safest treatment parameters, ensuring that each session is as effective and as safe as possible. While it touches on race, it’s important to understand that it’s not an exact measure—it’s more of an indicator to help guide treatments with both safety and efficacy in mind. This rating scale helps us determine which laser modality is safest and most effective for each person. The scale ranges from:

Type I: Very fair skin, always burns, never tans.

Type II: Fair skin, usually burns, tans minimally.

Type III: Medium skin, sometimes mild burns, tans gradually.

Type IV: Olive skin, rarely burns, tans well.

Type V: Brown skin, very rarely burns, tans deeply.

Type VI: Dark brown or black skin, never burns, tans very easily.

Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency. (2018, March 13). Fitzpatrick Skin Type [Image]. https://www.arpansa.gov.au/sites/default/files/legacy/pubs/RadiationProtection/FitzpatrickSkinType.pdf

Laser Technology: Alexandrite and Nd:YAG

Different lasers are used depending on the patient's skin type. The Alexandrite laser is a go-to for lighter skin types (Fitzpatrick I-III). It operates at a wavelength of 755 nm, which targets the melanin in the hair follicle with great precision. However, this laser can pose a higher risk for hyperpigmentation or burns in darker skin types, which brings us to the Nd:YAG lasers.

The Nd:YAG laser, with a longer wavelength of 1064 nm, is ideal for darker skin types (Fitzpatrick IV-VI). Its longer wavelength penetrates deeper into the skin and is less absorbed by the melanin in the epidermis, reducing the risk of skin damage while still targeting the melanin in the hair follicles. This is how we adequately treat deeper skin types 

British Lasers. (2023, June 9). Understanding how laser functions [Image]. https://britishlasers.com/newest-laser-hair-removal-technology/

How Laser Energy Targets Hair Follicles

No matter the laser type, all hair reduction treatments function by targeting melanin, the pigment found in both hair and skin. Laser energy is absorbed by the melanin in the hair follicle, heating it up and eventually destroying the follicle, preventing future hair growth. This process is called selective photothermolysis, a term that refers to the selective destruction of melanin in the hair while minimising damage to the surrounding skin.

Selective Photothermolysis: Protecting Darker Skin Types

For those with darker skin (higher on the Fitzpatrick scale), there’s understandably a concern about potential skin damage due to the presence of more melanin. But with selective photothermolysis, we can protect darker skin by using specific lasers like the Nd:YAG, which safely bypasses the melanin in the skin while still targeting the melanin in the hair follicle. This ensures effective treatment without causing harm to the surrounding tissue.

Laser hair reduction is a highly customisable treatment that needs to be adapted to your skin type for safe and effective results. The right cooling techniques, understanding your Fitzpatrick skin type, and choosing the correct laser modality are all essential to getting the best possible outcome—especially for those of us managing PCOS-related hair growth. Remember, whether you have light or dark skin, modern laser technology ensures that we can achieve long-term hair reduction safely.

Luciana 🤍

[trustsnew]

A review of 63 studies has found no link between mobile phone use and an increased risk of brain cancer.Commissioned by the World Health Organization (WHO), it found no rise in cases despite a huge i...

[christinamac1]

Radiation Protection Agency to Decide on Facility Licence Soon

 https://www.miragenews.com/agency-to-decide-on-facility-licence-soon-1231158/ 8 May 24 Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998 Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Regulations 2018 As required by subsection 48(2) of the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Regulations 2018, the CEO of ARPANSA gives notice that she intends to make a decision…

[nedsecondline]

France has banned the sale of iPhone 12s over 'failed radiation tests' — What does this mean for Australians? - ABC News

The radiation from your phone is not going to harm you, Professor Ken Karipidis, assistant director of health impact assessment at the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, told ABC News. He said all imported telecommunication devices were tested by the Australian Communications and Media Authority. The Australian SAR limit is 2 watts per kilogram, half of the EU…

[emfsolutions]

The Rise of Protection Pendants in Melbourne

Melbourne, Australia - Walk down the streets of Melbourne today and you'll likely spot a growing fashion accessory - the protection pendant. These small pendants worn as necklaces or bracelets have become increasingly popular among Melbourne residents looking to shield against electromagnetic fields (EMF).

Experts say there are a few key reasons behind the rising interest in EMF protection pendants. For one, people are more concerned than ever before about the health impacts of constant exposure to technology like cell phones, wifi routers, and laptops. There is also growing awareness around 5G networks being rolled out across Australia and the higher frequency radiation levels they emit.

"We're exposed to so many more EMF sources today than we were even five or ten years ago. People are worried about what the cumulative effects could be," said Dr. Henry Lewtan, a Melbourne-based physician.

In particular, a number of studies have linked EMF exposure to increased risks of neurological conditions, cancer, and reproductive health issues. While more research is still needed, Dr. Lewtan says some patients feel wearing an EMF protection pendant provides them peace of mind.

Market research shows that women aged 25-44 make up the largest demographic purchasing EMF pendants in Melbourne. "I bought one as soon as I found out I was pregnant," said local resident Emma Davis. "I know we need more definitive research, but I'd rather be safe than sorry when it comes to my baby's health."

In response to increasing customer interest, a handful of Melbourne companies have started selling EMF protection jewelry and accessories. One local business leading the way is EMF Solutions.

Founded in 2019 by Melbourne engineer John Smith, EMF Solutions sells pendants made with proprietary metal alloys that are designed to block EMF radiation from sources like cell towers, cell phones, and wifi.

"I first made a pendant for my wife who was concerned about the radiation from the wifi router in our bedroom," said Smith. "When friends and family saw it, they all wanted one. That inspired me to turn it into a business."

Smith partnered with scientists at the University of Melbourne to develop pendants that block over 99% of EMF radiation while still being lightweight and stylish. EMF Solutions pendants feature popular metals like stainless steel, titanium, copper, and brass.

"We feel it's important our pendants are fashionable enough that people actually want to wear them daily," Smith explained. "Function and style are equally important."

EMF Solutions has seen skyrocketing demand during the pandemic, more than doubling sales every year. The Australian startup has an online store and also sells globally through retailers like Amazon and eBay.

"The pandemic has made people more concerned about health and wellbeing," said Smith. "But beyond COVID, constant tech exposure is a growing issue. We expect the protection pendant trend to keep rising steadily in Melbourne and beyond."

Government agencies like ARPANSA (Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency) maintain that EMF levels from modern devices are safe according to current research. However, they do suggest people take precautions like limiting cell phone use if concerned.

For her part, Emma Davis plans to continue wearing her EMF pendant during pregnancy and beyond. “I figure there’s no harm in being cautious,” she said. “And now they make so many pretty pendants, so that helps!”

It’s clear that concerns around EMF radiation are going mainstream in Melbourne. Whether for peace of mind or possible protection, more residents are turning to pendants and other accessories to shield themselves. Expect to see more and more metallic fashion statements in the form of protection pendants popping up across the Australian city.

[insideusnet]

Australia’s Nuclear Safety Agency Joins Hunt for Radioactive Capsule : Inside US

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Australia’s nuclear safety agency said on Tuesday it had joined the hunt for a radioactive capsule missing in the west of the country. Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) is working with the Western Australian government to locate the capsule, it said in a statement. The capsule, believed to have fallen from a truck, was part of a gauge used…

[stopsmartmetersaustralia]

German Federal Office for Radiation Protection calls for more research on influence of electromagnetic fields on plants and animals

German Federal Office for Radiation Protection calls for more research on influence of electromagnetic fields on plants and animals

Further to an international workshop on environmental effects of electric, magnetic and electromagnetic fields on flora and fauna, Germany’s Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) says that “there is still a considerable need for research”.

The workshop, which was organised by the BfS, took place in Munich at the beginning of November 2019.

The BfS’s press release says the findings of the workshop…

[demystifyingscience]

The 60-hour crunch: working with xray free electron lasers

Imagine your job (or dream job). Imagine that job only being able to be conducted in five places worldwide at the time of this post. Five countries, five sites. Now imagine you can only go for a few days out of the year to complete months or years worth of work.

You would imagine that there would be a sense of urgency in the way you conduct the job. You’d have to be as efficient as possible, because those precious 48 to 60 hours are the only chances you’ll get for at least a year, possibly more, to do this work. On top of that, because of the nature of this job, there’s probably a lot of competition to get to choose who comes to the site in a given year. You pour hours into creating the perfect proposal, a demonstration of why you should be granted the opportunity.

This is the nature of working with X-ray Free Electron Lasers (XFELs). As of 2022, there are five operating in the world, each involved in cutting edge chemical, physical, and biological research. They are truly sites in the world where boundaries are being pushed, and processes being made more efficient. It opens the doors to collaborations where previously there wouldn’t have been any, and so this field of science flourishes and has a strong backbone in the form of the XFEL.

In my four years, I’ve been involved in four experiments at the XFELs. This is quite numerous — during 2020 we had two runs, completely virtual. This was its own challenge, of course, and I had also just joined my laboratory group, so needless to say most of the time I had no idea what was going on. That’s okay, though. It certainly planted a seed of anticipation for my first trip in person to such an instrument. In August of 2021 I went to Menlo Park, California, where the national lab SLAC is located (the acronym actually has a weird story — let me know if you want to hear it. The S is of dubious status right now, but the LAC stands for ‘Linear Accelerator’).

I’d never been so far from the Midwest before, and this marked the first year I ever rode a plane — at age 25, no less!

At SLAC there’s the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), and this is where the X-ray laser is generated and used for experiments. You may ask me: ‘Why not just make an X-ray laser in an academic lab?’ Some people kind of have, but not nearly to this extent. When I write a post on it, I’ll be sure to link it here. X-ray generation for the doctor’s office is very different than the X-ray generation of these XFELs. For lower energy X-rays, a small x-ray tube is fine. But for the high-energy, high-intensity physical and chemical applications, a lot longer of a 'tube' is needed. This involves the acceleration of electrons through either a ring (like the particle accelerators at CERN in Switzerland) or through a long linear path. (The ring ones are called ‘synchrotrons’, and there are far more of these than there are x-ray lasers. Cooler word, though.)

Here is an article that talks about the basics of X-ray radiation generation from the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency. Please ask if any questions arise!

Because SLAC incorporates a linear path (hence the ‘linear accelerator part of it’s name), it means that the electrons are pushed through a 2km-long tunnel, all the while creating high-energy radiation. The electrons are pushed with magnets, since electrons have a negative charge. They are pushed so fast that they begin to emit radiation in the X-ray region of the electromagnetic spectrum. They are also pulsed, and these pulses of light are very intense, able to destroy the molecules that come in contact with it. It is very dangerous to be in the room with this laser on [1].

Electromagnetic radiation spans from long-wavelength radio waves to x-rays and gamma rays on the short-wavelength/higher-energy range. The shorter the wavelength, the higher the energy associated with the radiation. UV radiation, for example, tans and burns our skin because of the high energy associated with it. But it does good too -- it creates the vitamin D in our skin that is essential for health [2].

X-rays have more energy in them than the wavelengths of light that are visible. They have unique properties, such as being able to pass through soft matter like your skin and muscles when getting an X-ray done at the doctor's office.

The scope of this operation is huge, and this size is required. It is no mystery now that you can’t just build this in your backyard, nor in an academic lab. Universities can have x-ray sources… but nothing like this. This laser is capable of creating ultra-intense, ultra-bright pulses of X-rays, which lends itself well to applications such as finding structures of proteins or dynamics of molecular motion.

In particular, my group is interested in ‘molecular movies’, and x-ray lasers can help provide some of the answers of how molecules move physically in response to light. We went to the LCLS to study vitamin B-12’s response to light, and overall it was very productive.

Yes, you can only go for a few hours out of the year, and getting in is highly competitive because of the demand for the cutting-edge technology. But if you plan those 60 hours well, you can have data to last an entire dissertation. I am currently working on analyzing data that was taken in 2017. So there is a lot of information that can be gathered, and the perk is that you get to travel!

Soon I will travel to Hamburg, Germany to do an experiment at the European XFEL. It’ll be my fifth XFEL experiment overall that I have been involved in, including collaborations. I'll keep this blog updated with the goings-on of the work and fun I'll have while there! And if you have any questions, please send an ask or message!

References

Overview of X-ray Lasers from LCLS

Sofferman, D. Journal of Chemical Physics, (2021), 154(9).

Images: Locations of XFELs: Chemical and Engineering News, ACS SLAC sign picture: taken by me during my visit in 2021 Overhead view of LCLS: LCLS website View of x-ray tunnel: LCLS website Electromagnetic spectrum: Encyclopaedia Britannica

[kuacute2020]

Nice Cat All The Yarn Is Mine Shirt

The general conclusion is  that mobile phones are safe and there doesn’t appear to be any risks. It is the assessment of ARPANSA and other national and international health authorities, including the World Health Organization (WHO), that there is no established scientific evidence that the use of mobile phones causes any health effects. For your background, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPASNA) is the Australian Government’s primary authority on radiation protection and nuclear safety. I can’t notice any difference between 3g and lte in my country. In fact, the works worse and drains a lot more battery due to crappy signals so most people turn it off.

BUY IT: Nice Cat All The Yarn Is Mine Shirt

Home: Versiontee

[juniperpublishers-fashion-b-blog]

The Importance of the use of Clothes with Solar UV Protection - Juniper Publishers

To know more about Journal of Fashion Technology-https://juniperpublishers.com/ctftte/index.phpTo know more about open access journals Publishers click on Juniper Publishers

Abstract

Normal clothes protect human body form the harmful effects of intense solar Ultraviolet (UV) radiation in a wide range of values of the UV Protection Factor (indicated as UPF). In the present review, we describe how this factor is defined, how it is related to the well-known Solar Protection Factor (SPF) of sunscreens and what kind of fabric characteristics and materials determine the protection level. We also present a typical measurement of solar transmittance, solar protection and the UPF value determined in actual conditions of fabrics exposed to solar radiation. We propose that all fabrics need to include universally the identification of its UPF.

Keywords: Solar UV Protection; Ultraviolet; Sunscreens; Solar transmittance; Solar protection; Solar radiation; Sun burning; Skin cancer; Fabric; Clothes

Abbreviation: UV: Ultraviolet; UPF: UV Protection Factor; SPF: Solar Protection Factor; ALD: Atomic Layer Deposition; ARPANSA: Australian Radiation and Protection Nuclear Safety Agency

Go to

Introduction

From thousands years ago, clothes were fundamental in the protection of persons against the adverse effects of the environment (cold and hot weathers, rain, snow, wind). Only in the last decades it has been emphasized the significance of clothes against solar adverse effects, like sun burning and many other diseases, been skin cancer the most important one [1]. Recently, a factor has been introduced in order to characterize the protection a cloth gives to the person that uses it outdoor. It is called Ultraviolet (UV) protection factor (most commonly known as UPFX) for a given fabric X and it gives the possibility to quantify the skin shielding to this harmful radiation. It was first introduced in Australia [2] and then generalized all over the world, through the CIE (Commission Internationale d‘Eclairage or International Commission on Illumination) report [3,4].

Its inverse value (multiplied by 100) corresponds to the percentage transmittance of solar UV radiation,

Consequently, it cannot be less than 1. For example, if a fabric X has an UPFX=50 (Table 1), it means that only 2% of the incident radiation will arrive on the skin, but if it has a value UPF= 5, it will permits the incidence on the skin of 20% of the solar UV radiation. The percentage solar UV protection is:

So, in the former case the protection is very high, 98% but in the latter case, only 80%.

A qualification scheme has been introduced (Table 1), in order to present in a more simple way, the protection against UV solar radiation. The qualification values varies between those lowers or equal to 14 that are considered “Not good” and those equal or higher than 40, that are “Excellent”. It must be noted that the 50+ qualification corresponds to all UPF values higher than 50.

Similarly to UPF, a Solar Protection Factor (SPFY) was previously introduced for sunscreens of type Y. In this last case, the SPF is defined as the factor that needs to multiply the maximum exposure time of a given skin phototype (ranging from I to VI following the Fitzpatrick classification [1]) exposed to the Sun, to determine the time interval before having the possibility to develop sunburn [1]. For example, as recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology, a person with Caucasian skin phototype needs to use at least a sunscreen with SPF = 30 and can stay under intense UV solar UV radiation a maximum of 15 minutes (time interval without applied sunscreen) multiplied by 30, or 450 minutes. However, due to transpiration, possible access to water in a piscine, sea, etc, dermatologists recommend to repeat the sunscreen application about each 2 hours.

According Gloster & Neal [5], skin cancer is less common in darkly pigmented persons than in Caucasians because the darkly skin has a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of up to 13.4 in blacks. However, the skin cancer in darkly pigmented persons is often associated with increased morbidity and mortality.

We like to point out that the clothes normally do not cover all the body; consequently, these recommendations need to be taken into account in combination with clothes having a high UPF.

Fabric properties and materials

Different types of fibers are employed in the production of fabrics. For example, natural fibers are made of cotton and wool and artificial fibers are mainly of polyester, nylon, Lycra, acrylic and rayon. They have quite different behaviors against solar UV radiation. One of the first characteristics to be taking into consideration is the amount of fiber/yarn per unit of surface area who determines its porosity. The lowest this quantity, the lowest the UPF. This fact can be easily confirmed observing a fabric with a light source behind (better not the Sun, since the fabric protection could be not enough if it is very low). If the visible light traverses the fabric and the source can be seen rather well, normally its UPF is quite small and consequently with low protection. On the contrary, if the light is almost not seen, the protection is quite high. It can be easily understood that bigger holes in the fabric between the fiber/yarn, permit to pass more solar radiation through it.

Other properties are:

a. The color, with darker colors absorbing more solar UV radiation than clear colors. For a given color, brilliant (reflective) fabrics, like rayon, are better than mate ones, like linen. However, a darker color absorbs efficiently solar radiation in the infrared (thermal) range, increasing the risk of heatstroke disease. Consequently, is better to use outside clothing made with a clear color fabric, but with the highest possible UPF value. Srinivan & Gatewood [4] demonstrated that colors influence significantly the UPF value in cotton (=4.1). They obtained significant increases in the UPF value when dyes of different colors were applied (in a 0.5% concentration of weight): 20 for Yellow 28 dye, 21 for Violet 29 dye, 22 for Blue 1 and Green 26 dyes, 30 for Black 38 dye and 39 for Red 28 dye;

b. The elasticity, since if the fabric is elongated the porosity increases;

c. The density (and depth), since tight construction (and thicker fabrics) reduce the amount of UV radiation that can traverse through the fabric and

d. The water content, more quantity tends to reduce the UPF.

Besides dyes, chemicals can be added to fabrics to improve their UPF. In what follows we will analyze some treatments of this kind:

• Xiao et al [6] applied an Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) [7] as a coating on a fabric, depositing TiO2, Al2O3, and TiO2/ Al2O3 nano-layers onto dyed polyamide/aramid blend fabric surface. This fabric showed an excellent UV resistance, suggesting that ALD technology can be used effectively to improve dyed fabrics properties.

• Gies [2] determined through laboratory tests done in the Australian Radiation and Protection Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) that Lycra fabrics normally have UPF values of 50 or 50+, higher than nylon and polyester.

• Chakraborty et al [8] investigated the addition to cotton fabrics, of two conventional absorbers: benzophenone (that absorbs mainly in the UVB, 280-320nm wavelength range) and 2.4 dihydroxybenzophenone (mainly in the UVA, 320- 400nm range) and two new absorbers: avobenzone alone and avobenzone in combination with octocrylene. They obtained the (significant) result that the new absorbers increase by a factor up to 200 the UPF with respect to the conventional ones.

• Pakdel et al [9] analyzed the significant enhancement due to antimicrobial coating on cotton fabrics; employing metalized Titanium dioxide (TiO2) with noble metals, Silver (Ag) and Gold (Au) and silica. They determined a positive impact on UV protection in the case of the use of metals in the synthesis process, but a negative one in the case of silica.

Results

Employing the high quality (double monochromator with auto calibration) Optronic 756 spectroradiometer of the Institute of Physics Rosario, we first determined in Rosario, Argentina the incident spectral solar irradiance in the UV (280-400nm) range. This irradiance, Iinc, solar(λ) , corresponds to the solar radiation incident on a unit surface and at a unit time, for a given wavelength interval centered around λ and having units of Joules/(m2second μm) or Watt/(m2μm). Then we interposed the fabric X to be analyzed and made a new measurement, that we call Itrans,X(λ), the transmitted spectral solar irradiance. The ratio:

where Tsolar,X(λ) is the spectral solar transmittance of fabric X.

In Figure 1 we represent Iinc,solar(λ) and Itrans,solar,X(λ) in the (280-400nm) UV range by continuous lines, measured in January 2012. Measurements were acquired in three different moments of the day, near noon and near the maximum of the (Southern Hemisphere) summer, in order to avoid significant changes in the intensity of solar spectral radiation (Figure 1).

Since the measurements were made outside and consequently depend on the sky conditions (absence of clouds, no modification of the atmospheric components, no arrival of contaminant clouds of particulate matter, etc.), we verify if Iinc,solar(λ) did not changed more than 5% in all the wavelength range, doing a new measurement after obtaining the transmitted spectral solar irradiance data. This condition was fulfilled, as can be seen in Figure 1 by the almost superposition of the solar radiation measured points to the continuous curve, the last one representing the incident spectral solar irradiance.

Integrating (summing over all the wavelengths) each spectral irradiance, we determined the so called: incident UV irradiance ( Iinc,UV ) and transmitted solar UV irradiance ( Itrans,UV ,X ). Consequently, we can obtain the solar UV transmittance T*UV,X= Itrans,UV ,X/ Iinc,UV. In Table 2, we present results for Lycra fabric of three different colors, with the following composition: Polyamide 85% and Elastane 15%. It can be seen that the red, yellow and blue colors have quite large UV protection factors, as expected, since the dyes of the fabric absorb a large fraction (more than 98%) of UV radiation.

We like to point out that the solar UV transmittance ( T*UV,X ) values given in Table 2 were obtained in actual conditions of exposure to solar radiation, but the standardized UPFX is obtained in laboratory, with an artificial UV source. So, the corresponding values can differ one from the others. For comparison purposes, we like to point out that Davis et al [10] analyzed the clothing protection of different types of fabrics, and found the highest values for wool (with structure of Twill woven) of 139 and acrylic (with structure of Jersey knit) of 104.

Conclusion

From the present work, we can derive the following conclusions:

a. All fabrics that are designed to be used outside, for different activities (work, recreation, etc) need to have the indication of its UPF, and if possible, the UPF values must be 50 or larger (50+), in order to have a convenient skin protection that normally do not degrades along the hours of the day as is the case of sunscreens, that need to be replaced about each two hours, as recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology.

b. Babies with ages lower than a year must be putted outside solar radiation (as indicated by the Academy previously cited) and kids need to be protected with clothes that have UPF values equal or larger than 50. In particular, authors of the present work verify, through interviews with mothers in a period of 8 years (2010- 2017), that in Rosario, Argentina, babies (Figure 2) and kids that used this type of clothes, do not reported solar burn or other complications of their fragile skins. Note the small Sun shadow projected by the baby in this image, demonstrating a high solar irradiance incident on the place. This is due to the fact that solar radiation needs to traverse a lower atmospheric depth near noon, producing a lower attenuation with respect to the rest of the day. The protection needs to be very efficient, since around noon in the Spring-Summer period, the Solar UV Index (internationally used for qualifying the importance of solar UV radiation incident on a given site, see for example the UNEP report on Environmental Effects of Ozone Depletion and its Interaction with Climate Change [11]) in Rosario city and nearby regions, is usually in the extreme range (values equal or higher than 11).

c. National, regional or city authorities need to incorporate legislation in this sense.

d. Besides the improvement in the materials and design of clothes resistant for UV degradation, the textile industry needs to consider a new circular economy (that optimize the use of natural resource, reduce pollution and recycle), in order to contribute to the global effort to mitigate climate change [12].

To know more about Journal of Fashion Technology-https://juniperpublishers.com/ctftte/index.php

To know more about open access journals Publishers click on Juniper Publishers 

[ebisudiagnostics]

How to minimize the radiation risk to Childrens?

During a CT scan, the objective is that your child is exposed to the smallest amount of radiation necessary to make a diagnosis. The Australian Government through the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) and the health professionals who refer and deliver medical imaging promote the following strategies for minimising radiation exposure in children:

Only use CT when there is a clear medical benefit. Use other diagnostic imaging methods such as ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which do not use X-ray...

For more info, visit:

https://posts.gle/T7pRp

[fumpkins]

The network that monitors Australia's UV-exposure levels expands to central Queensland

Updated July 29, 2019 07:20:54

Photo: Alexandria Galea spends a large portion of her working day outdoors. (ABC Capricornia: Alice Roberts)

Australia is the skin cancer capital of the world, so you might be surprised to find there are just 16 ultraviolet (UV) radiation sensors that make up the country’s national network.

Key points:

Australia is adding an extra UV sensor to its network in the central Queensland town of Emerald

There are currently just 16 sensors across the national network, run by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency

Locals who spend time working in the outdoors hope that the sensors will provide them with useful information about their UV exposure

For the first time, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) has teamed up with a local council to install a UV sensor in the town of Emerald in central Queensland.

ARPANSA’s Dr Stuart Henderson said the small mining and agricultural town provided a unique opportunity for the national organisation.

“It’s good for a town like Emerald that has a large, outdoor workforce — it’s also got quite a settled and clear climate out there,” he said.

“Emerald was an attractive site for a number of reasons for us — Queensland has high UV levels.

“It’s also in central Queensland, our current detectors in Queensland are all along the coast, so the climate is quite different in central Queensland to what it is on the coast.”

While UV sensors can be bought commercially, and the Cancer Council in some states have a few of its own, the sensors run by ARPANSA are the only ones that are part of the national network.

Dr Henderson said as technology improved, the opportunity to provide more sensors in regional Australia could see ARPANSA work with more local councils.

Photo: A sign welcomes visitors to Emerald on the outskirts of the central Queensland town. (ABC Capricornia: Alice Roberts)

“The original technology and type of sensors that we used were quite expensive and required quite a lot of maintenance and so that sort of limited the numbers that we could deploy,” he said.

“As a consequence of that, we concentrated on targeting the major population centres, so we went into all the capital cities and some of the larger regional towns, so we could get better coverage where most Australians live.

“The costs are coming down and the technology is improving, so that’s why we’re able to move into a smaller place like Emerald.”

The sensor is currently being tested and will be installed next month.

Useful information for locals working outdoors

Emerald agronomist Alexandria Galea grew up on a cotton property and spends a large amount of time outdoors for her job.

“Working in the cotton industry, especially with irrigation, there is a lot of exposure to the sun, especially because you can’t necessarily wear long-sleeved clothes for some of the work you do in the water,” she said.

“You are exposed to a lot more rays, so you do want to protect yourself.

“Your skin is the biggest organ in your body, it’s incredibly important to look after it.”

Ms Galea said having real-time information would make people think twice about their sun exposure locally.

She said the sensor also had the potential to provide information to the agricultural industry in the future.

“UV correlates to your crop productivity, your biomass growth and your development of yields, especially at those critical times during the season,” she said.

“That will be an interesting space to see develop that will help us read how that correlates to our crop growth.”

Changing the way we work

Photo: Central Highlands Regional Council flood-mitigation project manager Bill Wilkinson. (ABC Capricornia: Alice Roberts)

Central Highlands Regional Council flood-mitigation project manager Bill Wilkinson said all levels of government could work ‘smarter’ to ensure stronger messaging around sun exposure.

“It would be nice to see some hard data that allows employers and community to get a better connection between risk and protection,” he said.

“You can see what’s modelled versus what is actually occurring on the day, so the prevalence of cloud and what not can change just how much UV is getting through.”

Mr Wilkinson said having more real-time information could change the way Australians work in the future.

“If the temperatures are getting up there in the middle of the day with climate change, we may potentially have to say ‘well do we change some of the hours that we work’, maybe we do a siesta like the Italians and Greeks do,” he said.

“I don’t know, but with more data you’re able to make more informed decisions.”

Topics:

skin-cancer,

science-and-technology,

health,

agricultural-crops,

agricultural-policy,

crop-harvesting,

solar-energy,

climate-change,

emerald-4720

First posted July 29, 2019 06:43:03

New post published on: https://www.livescience.tech/2019/07/29/the-network-that-monitors-australias-uv-exposure-levels-expands-to-central-queensland/

[christinamac1]

Green light for nuclear ships, submarines in Tasmanian port

Perth Now, Dominic Giannini AAP, August 25, 2023 A Tasmanian port has been given the green light to host nuclear-powered vessels after being verified by the national safety agency. A quarterly report by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency said staff completed work at the Hobart port to ensure it could host such vessels and respond in an emergency. Staff also travelled…

[adelaideattractions]

Warning over radioactive jewellery

Radioactive jewellery being sold in Australia can expose wearers to uranium and thorium, the radiation watchdog has warned. Sellers claim the mystical scalar energy jewellery uses embedded holograms to help with balance, building muscle, sleep, pain relief, giving a youthful glow and, ironically, blocking electromagnetic radiation. The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) says the products, also called quantum energy or quantum science products, not only risked exposing the wearer, but did not work. The agency said it had confirmed the presence of radioactive material in scalar pendants, and while it could not test all products, anything scalar might contain radioactive particles.

media_cameraEnergyWave scalar wristbands. Picture: energywaveworldwide.com A US probe also found volcanic rock or sand in the products contained radioactive traces. ARPANSA spokesman Ken Karipidis said the health claims were not consistent with current scientific knowledge and it is difficult, if not impossible, to verify any benefits. Although sellers of some of these devices have reported biological tests to support health claims, there is no reliable evidence that such devices provide any health benefits other than by perhaps reducing peoples anxiety or by a placebo effect, he said. ARPANSA does not recommend the use of such protective devices. Walkervilles House of Healing founder and naturopath Deborah Rugari has been promoting Energy Waves scalar products. She referred the Sunday Mails questions to Energy Wave master distributor Tony Mark-Seymour and the companys US director Warren Hanchey. They said their products were different because they used a licensed Singapore factory and high-quality silicone. Mr Mark-Seymour said Energy Wave bracelets used to be made in China but were now produced under licence in Singapore with silicon from North Carolina. Holograms were placed in a chamber, where they are programmed with different frequencies then attached to the bracelets, he said. Mr Hanchey said it was absolutely correct that other manufacturers produced radioactive jewellery but that his company used different technology. We would never deal with any kind of radioactive material, he said, adding his company limited use of negative ions. https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/australian-radiation-protection-and-nuclear-safety-agency-warns-over-wearing-scalar-energy-jewellery/news-story/4f01a9201287e8826ec84af88ae27084?from=htc_rss

[hokeypokeystuff-blog]

Buying Kids Swimwear

Summertime is quickly approaching and that means kids and adults will be heading to the pool and ocean. As you're searching for kid’s swimwear, keep the following tips in mind. Boys swimwear

Fit is everything. Whether you want to take your child with you or have him or her try on several swimsuits you've purchased, it's important that you find a suit that fits your child perfectly. The elastic bands that circle the legs can't be too tight or they'll cause rashes. You don't want a suit that is too loose because it could snag easily. Regardless of how cute the suit may be, the child has to feel comfortable in the suit if he or she is going to have fun in the water.

Baby swimsuits are another matter. Keeping your baby protected from the sun is a top concern, and the baby swimwear you choose can help you do this better than any lotion or sun cream on the market. Today's sun-conscious baby is wearing full-length neoprene baby swimsuits, which look similar to a wetsuit that a diver might wear. They have snaps in the crotch area which can accommodate a diaper change. Teen Bikini

Don't forget hats when buying swimsuits. The sun can be harsh on a baby's skin and a hat protects the face and head. With babies possessing such thin hair early on, their head is prone to sunburn. Most baby hats come with an elastic band to help keep it on the head. While he or she may not take to a hat immediately, it's an important part to any summer wardrobe. Waterproof diapers are another important piece of baby swimwear that should not be overlooked. You can purchase either disposables or reusable waterproof diapers. While the disposables can be more expensive if you spend a lot of time at the pool, reusable diapers must be stored after swimming. 

Sun protection - The number one thing you should be concerned about when purchasing kids' fashion swimwear is sun protection. Most swimsuits on the market don't cover much skin and often it seems like the less skin that is covered, the higher the price! Even suits that are more modest do not necessarily provide any protection against the sun.

You should easily be able to find a suit that is specifically made to resist chlorine or saltwater, depending on where your child swims the most. To ensure that the suit is made to the highest standards, especially in the area of sun protection, look for one by a manufacturer that is licensed under the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency or a similar entity in your country. Hokey Pokey

When picking out girls swimsuits, two piece kids’ swimsuits are the best choice in terms of safety. Not only is there less material to get hung on pool parts, they're easier to maneuver in and out of when going to the restroom. When choosing a swimsuit, select one that has a drawstring. However, don't let the drawstring dangle from the kid’s swimwear too far, because it could be sucked in by pool filtering systems.

Sun shirts are a great idea for both boy and girls. The item before purchasing, as a simple t-shirt is often not enough to protect your child's skin. It's also a good idea to put suntan lotion on your child under the swimsuits to ensure your child's skin is protected from the harsh rays.

[tools-tablet]

5G regulators, researchers working to bust risk myths

​The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) and the Australian Centre for Electromagnetic Bioeffects Research (ACEBR) are redoubling efforts to bust myths about the negative health effects of 5G in the face of a small but growing ‘Stop 5G’ movement. from Computerworld - Tech Planet RSS feed https://ift.tt/2Gjr6y5