Occupational solar UV exposure in construction workers in Italy: Results of a one-month monitoring with personal dosimeters

Occupational exposure to solar UV radiation (UVR) is relevant in the construction sector. We performed a one month monitoring period in late spring of direct individual solar UVR exposure measurements in a group of three construction workers from the Tuscany Italian region, using the GENESIS-UV system for personal dosimetry and for the collection of long-term exposure data in a centralized dataset. Then, we compared personal UVR exposure data with the environmental erythemal dose in the same days in clear-sky conditions. The individual solar UVR exposures of the construction workers in the period between 22nd May and 22nd June 2017 in Tuscany varied between 85.5 and 1556.8 J/m2, while the average daily exposure considering all the three workers resulted 573.3 J/m2. The percentage between individual vs environmental exposure varied from 2.7 up to 31.2%, resulting 12.2 on average. Of the total amount of 40 days/worker measured we detected exposure levels above the 100 J/m2 proposed limit value in 39 days/worker, with exceeding of the limit up to ten times per day, more than five times on average. In terms of cumulative UVR exposure, the construction workers received on average a total one month exposure, based on 21 working days, of 12 kJ/m2, and we estimated an annual exposure of about 70 kJ/m2, approximately corresponding to 700 Standard Erythemal Doses. Our data show that the exposure levels of the Italian construction workers are very high in late spring, systematically exceeding the limit values. These UVR exposure levels can be considered potentially dangerous, in particular if associated with relevant cumulative annual UV doses received at the body, which are related to an increased risk of adverse effects, including skin cancers. Accordingly, a big effort is needed, to urgently reduce occupational solar UVR exposure in the construction sector, improving the application of preventive measures.