6.1 UV radiation – natural and artificial

Solar UV radiation exposure from the sun: policies and actions

 

1.

Guidance:

Develop or update national sun protection policies and action plans to help prevent skin cancer and eye disease from solar radiation exposure.

 

Sector principally involved in planning/ implementation:

Health

 

Level of implementation:

National

 

Instruments:

Regulation

 

ICHI code:

VEG.WJ.ZZ

Policy change in relation to UV radiation exposure behaviours

 

VEG.TB.ZZ

Planning in relation to UV radiation exposure behaviours

 

2.

Guidance:

Support the production, labelling and distribution of affordable UV protection products that use national or international protection labels/standards such as sunscreens (sun protection factor), clothing (UV protection factor), and sunglasses to ensure clear and safe guidelines for manufacturers and consumers (1).

 

Sector principally involved in planning/ implementation:

Health

 

Level of implementation:

National

 

Instruments:

Regulation

 

ICHI code:

VEG.WG.ZZ&UAD

Applying incentives to support improved UV radiation exposure behaviours

Products and technology for personal use in daily living

+

VEG.WE.ZZ&UAD

Restrictions on the production or importation of products related to UV radiation exposure

Products and technology for personal use in daily living

 

3.

Guidance:

Establish and enforce exposure limits and protective measures for outdoor workers, such as education programmes, tailored working hours, PPE, health surveillance (5).

 

Sector principally involved in planning/ implementation:

Health, industry, agriculture, construction

 

Level of implementation:

National,

Workplace

 

Instruments:

Regulation

 

ICHI code:

VEG.WI.QD&UER

Restrictions through enactment of laws or standards in relation to UV radiation exposure behaviours

Labour and employment services, systems and policies

 

VEG.WI.QE&UER

Restrictions through enforcement of laws or standards in relation to UV radiation exposure behaviours

Labour and employment services, systems and policies

 

4.

Guidance:

Establish national registries/statistics on UV radiation-induced skin and eye diseases (1).

 

Sector principally involved in planning/ implementation:

Health

 

Level of implementation:

National

 

Instruments:

Assessment and surveillance

 

ICHI code:

VEG.VC.ZZ

Public health surveillance concerning UV radiation exposure behaviours

 

5.

Guidance:

Support the provision of shaded areas in schools and in public places such as playgrounds, parks and swimming pools (1).

 

Sector principally involved in planning/ implementation:

Health

 

Level of implementation:

National, community, schools/ child- care settings,
Universal health coverage

 

 

Instruments:

Infrastructure, technology and built environment

 

ICHI code:

VEG.TA.ZZ&UAK

Advocacy in relation to UV radiation exposure behaviours

Design, construction and building products and technology of buildings for public use

 

Artificial UV radiation: policies and actions

 

6.

Guidance:

Establish and enforce exposure limits and protective measures for indoor workers (e.g. welders) such as engineering controls and administrative controls, such as training, access limitation, hazard warning and signs and PPE (5).

 

Sector principally involved in planning/ implementation:

 Health, industry,

 

Level of implementation:

National, workplace

 

Instruments:

Regulation

 

ICHI code:

VEG.WI.QD&VCB

Restrictions through enactment of laws or standards on UV radiation exposure behaviours

Workplace safety behaviours

 

VEG.WI.QE&VCB

Restrictions through enforcement of laws or standards on UV radiation exposure behaviours

Workplace safety behaviours

 

VEG.PH.ZZ&VCB

Training in relation to UV radiation exposure behaviours

Workplace safety behaviours

 

7.

Guidance:

Ban the use, marketing and promotion of artificial tanning services (sunbeds for cosmetic purposes) (6).

 

Sector principally involved in planning/ implementation:

Health

 

Level of implementation:

National

 

Instruments:

Regulation

 

ICHI code:

VEG.WF.QD&UAI

Enactment of restrictions on consumption or use of products in relation to UV radiation exposure

Products and technology for culture, recreation and sport

 

VEG.WD.ZZ&UAI

Restrictions on advertising, promotion or sponsorship of products or services in relation to UV radiation exposure behaviours

Products and technology for culture, recreation and sport

 

8.

Guidance:

Ban the hire and sale of sunbeds and other artificial tanning devices for domestic use (6).

 

Sector principally involved in planning/ implementation:

Health

 

Level of implementation:

National

 

Instruments:

Regulation

 

ICHI code:

VEG.WC.QD&UAI

Enactment of restrictions on the sale of products to affect UV radiation exposure

Products and technology for culture, recreation and sport

 

9.

Guidance:

Restrict the use of sunbeds and other artificial tanning devices (6):

·       prohibit unsupervised access;

·       set an age limit on the use of sunbeds and other artificial tanning devices.

 

Sector principally involved in planning/ implementation:

Health

 

Level of implementation:

National

 

Instruments:

Regulation

 

ICHI code:

VEG.WF.QD&UAI

Enactment of restrictions on consumption/use of products to affect UV radiation exposure behaviours

Products and technology for culture, recreation and sport

 

10.

Guidance:

Manage the use of sunbeds and other artificial tanning devices (6):

·       require surveillance and licensing of artificial tanning services;

·       set tanning lamp limits and exposure times;

·       require eye protection;

·       train operators.

 

Sector principally involved in planning/ implementation:

Health

 

Level of implementation:

National

 

Instruments:

Regulation

 

ICHI code:

VEG.WF.QD&UAI

Enactment of restrictions on consumption/use of products to affect UV radiation exposure behaviours

Products and technology for culture, recreation and sport

 

11.

Guidance:

Impose taxes on sunbed sessions (6).

 

Sector principally involved in planning/ implementation:

Health, finance

 

Level of implementation:

National

 

Instruments:

Regulation, taxes and subsidies

 

ICHI code:

VEG.WF.QF&UAI

Economic measures to restrict consumption or use of products to affect UV radiation exposure

Products and technology for culture, recreation and sport

 

12.

Guidance:

Require informing users of sunbeds and other artificial tanning devices about health risks and display of warning signs (6).

 

Sector principally involved in planning/ implementation:

Health

 

Level of implementation:

National

 

Instruments:

Regulation

 

ICHI code:

VEG.WC.ZZ&UAI

Restrictions on the sale or distribution of products or services in relation to UV radiation exposure

Products and technology for culture, recreation and sport

 

Awareness raising and capacity building

 

13.

Guidance:

Develop a risk communication strategy to sustainably raise awareness and educate the public about the health risks of skin cancer and eye diseases from UV radiation exposure.

 

Sector principally involved in planning/ implementation:

Health

 

Level of implementation:

National, community
Universal health coverage

 

Instruments:

Information, education and communication

 

ICHI code:

VEG.TB.ZZ
Planning in relation to UV radiation exposure

 

14.

Guidance:

Use the UV Index through the media as part of public awareness programmes (1).

 

Sector principally involved in planning/ implementation:

Health

 

Level of implementation:

National, community
Universal health coverage

 

Instruments:

Information, education and communication

 

ICHI code:

VEG.VB.ZZ

Awareness raising concerning UV radiation exposure

 

15.

Guidance:

Implement repeated education programmes to raise awareness about the health risks from prolonged UV exposure and protection measures to take (1), including the following.

·       Supply health care professionals, teachers and caregivers of children with educational material for distribution to the public.

·       Organize workshops for medical doctors and other health professionals.

·       Establish education programmes for teachers.

·       Establish education programmes for outdoor workers.

 

Sector principally involved in planning/ implementation:

Health

 

Level of implementation:

National, community, health care, schools/child- care settings, workplace

Universal health coverage

 

Instruments:

Information, education and communication

 

ICHI code:

VEG.PM.ZZ

Education about UV radiation exposure behaviours

VEG.VB.ZZ

Awareness raising about UV radiation exposure behaviours

 

16.

Guidance:

Inform the public about the risks of sunbeds and other artificial tanning devices (6).

 

Sector principally involved in planning/ implementation:

Health

 

Level of implementation:

National, community
Universal health coverage

 

Instruments:

Information, education and communication

 

ICHI code:

VEG.VB.ZZ

Awareness raising concerning UV radiation exposure

 

Selected tools

·       WHO 2021: The Global Health Observatory data repository – legislation of artificial tanning sunbeds (7)

·       WHO 2017: Artificial tanning devices: public health interventions to manage sunbeds (6)

·       WHO 2020: Ultraviolet (UV) radiation (8)