%0 Journal Article
%T Estimation of exposure durations for vitamin D production and sunburn risk in Switzerland
%J -
%D 2019
%R https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-019-0137-2
%X Although overexposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is responsible for cutaneous melanoma and epithelial skin cancer and can cause negative health effects such as sunburn, a Ħ°little and oftenĦħ exposure regime is often suggested to produce naturally recommended vitamin D levels, being essential for skeletal health. This study aimed to quantify solar UV doses needed to trigger 1000 International Units (IU) vitamin D doses and, at the same time, producing sunburn in Switzerland. Solar UV erythema irradiance (in mW/m2) measured at four meteorological stations in Switzerland for the period 2005¨C2017 were used to evaluate effective solar UV radiation producing 1000£żIU vitamin D doses in skin phototype II and III individuals. Daily solar UV exposure durations (in minutes) needed to produce vitamin D with limited sunburn risk were estimated while considering mean vitamin D food intake of the Swiss population and seasonal skin coverage. In summer and spring, with 22% of uncovered skin, 1000£żIU vitamin D doses are synthesized in 10¨C15£żmin of sun exposure for adults. Exposure durations between erythema risk and 1000£żIU vitamin D production vary between 9 and 46£żmin. In winter and autumn, the recommended vitamin D production without sunburn risks often unachievable, since up to 6.5£żh of sun exposure might be necessary considering 8¨C10% of uncovered skin surface. The vitamin D food intake only represented 10% of the recommended vitamin D production and remained unchanged throughout the year. These findings might clarify why vitamin D deficiency is common in Switzerland. Moreover, exposure durations between recommended vitamin D and increased sunburn risk might only differ by few minutes. Without additional oral vitamin D supplementation, daily doses of vitamin D (1000£żIU) are not reachable in autumn and winter months in Switzerland
%U https://www.nature.com/articles/s41370-019-0137-2