The incidence of skin cancer has been increasing at an alarming rate over the past several decades. While there are many factors involved in the onset of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers, overexposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) has clearly been identified as an important factor. Apart from avoidance of the sun, the most frequently used form of UV protection is the application of sunscreens. Secondly, the most frequently recommended form of UV protection is the use of hats, and proper selection of clothing. The ultraviolet properties of textiles dyed with synthetic dyes have been widely reported in literature. However, there are limited studies on the ultraviolet protection level of eco-friendly fabrics dyed with natural colorants. This study reports the Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) of bamboo fabric with three different knit structures dyed with natural colorants of plant origin. The bamboo fabrics were dyed with two natural colorants namely Annatto Gold and Eclipta Green. The dyeing parameters were optimised. The Ultraviolet Protection Factor of the fabric with respect to fabric construction, weight, thickness and dyeing was measured in-vitro using Ultraviolet Transmission Analyzer, standard AATCC – 183. The results indicate that there is positive correlation between the weight of the fabric and Ultraviolet Protection Factor. Similarly, thicker the fabric more is the protection. Dyeing with natural colorants dramatically increased the UV protection of all three fabric constructions. Thus, dyeing bamboo fabrics with natural colorants increases the ultraviolet protection of the fabrics and can be considered as an effective protection against ultraviolet rays.
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