EXPOSURE TO SOLAR UV RADIATION IN ITALY UNDER DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

The exposure to UV radiation was studied for the following relatively homogeneous targeted groups of people under peculiar environmental conditions: a) sunbathers (marine environment); b) skiers (alpine environment); c) winegrowers (rural environment). A comparison among different groups/environments was carried out taking advantage of an easy-to-estimate and reliable exposure index, the Exposure Ratio (ER). In particular, for the members of the most populated group (skiers) the intra-group variability of individual ER values changed from day to day depending upon the sun exposure of the preferred ski slopes tracks. In the sunbathers case, the three different groups of people under study were not distinguishable based on ER values while in the case of winegrowers seasonal occupational activities as well as the somatic location of dosimeters appeared to be the leading factors influencing ER. All in all, in spite of its essentially physical nature, the ER parameter showed to be a valuable although indirect index of individual behavioural features.