BIOLOGICAL UV DOSIMETRY AS TOOL FOR ASSESSING THE RISKS FROM AN INCREASED ENVIRONMENTAL UV-B RADIATION

摘要

Global scale decreases in total ozone have resulted in an increase in UV-B radiation at ground level. To assess the risks to human health and ecosystems from an enhanced UV-B radiation, an accurate and reliable UV monitoring system is required that weights the spectral irradiance according to the biological responses under consideration. Biological dosimetry meets these requirements by directly weighting the incident UV components of sunlight in relation to the biological effectiveness of the different wavelengths and to potential interactions between them. Bacteria, viruses and biomolecules have been developed as biological dosimeters. Their responses to environmental UV radiation, indicated as inactivation, mutagenesis or photochemical injury, reflect the UV sensitivity of DNA. Biological dosimeters are complementary to physical measurements as field dosimeters in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems for long-term monitoring of environmental UV radiation and as personal dosimeters.