Solar UV-Protective Properties of Textiles

Skin cancer is increasing worldwide, and exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is thought to be the most important risk factor [1, 2]. Outdoor professionals and people practising outdoor sports are considerably exposed to solar UV radiation [3]. We have reported high personal UV exposure in cycling professionals up to about 17 MED/day [4]. Obviously, adequate protection is mandatory. Here, a sports dress can offer high-quality protection against UV radiation. In Europe a standard of solar UV-protective properties of textiles is being discussed (European Committee for Standardisation CEN/TC248 WG14).We evaluated the UV protection of 4 different cycling jerseys in a total of 7 colours [‘maillot jaune’, ‘maillot vert’, ‘maillot à pois’ of the Tour de France 1998 (Nike) and the cycling jersey of the Team Deutsche Telekom 1998 (Adidas)]. (1) The jerseys were horizontally exposed to sunlight. (2) The jerseys were worn as a cycling dress. In these experiments, UV doses were measured with cosinus-correcting spore film dosimeters (Viospor, Biosense, Bornheim, Germany). The sun protection factor measured is the fraction of erythemally weighted incident radiation on the textile and transmitted radiation under the textile. (3) In addition, we tested UV transmission with a spectrophotometer according to the Australian and (proposed) European standard [5].The results are summarized in table 1.The textiles had comparable sun protection factors when tested with the standard procedure or under stationary sun exposure with spore film dosimeters.Yet, the cycling jerseys revealed a much higher sun protection when tested under ‘real’ conditions. This could be explained by the fact that the laboratory standard test procedure used UV light orthogonally incident to the fabric. But the structure of the fabric will offer higher protection to oblique or diffuse solar UV exposure.In conclusion, the proposed European standard may underestimate sun protection by textiles. Professional cyclists exposed to an extreme UV radiation are absolutely not tanned on sites covered by the cycling dress. Even jerseys with low sun protection factors (e.g. Team Deutsche Telekom jersey) clinically offer perfect protection.Nevertheless, it is best in the ‘maillot jaune’!We would like to thank Dr. Quintern and Dr. Holtschmidt for their support in spore film dosimetry and Dr. Hoffmann for his help with the spectrophotometer of the Department of Dermatology, Ruhr University, Bochum, Germany.