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Covering up
PhD candidate tackles UV radiation exposure in schools .
By Wade Zaglas
Teachers ’ risks of getting skin cancer
could be reduced by half in the near future simply by changing meal break times new research from the University of Southern of Queensland has found .
The research was undertaken by USQ PhD student Ben Dexter , who developed a mathematical model to calculate the collar ultraviolet radiation teachers are regularly exposed to during their playground duties .
Dexter ’ s study was published in the Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B : Biology . One of the most concerning findings of the study was that “ risk of teachers developing keratinocyte skin cancers varied by up to 45 per cent between schools across the state ”.
Queensland currently holds the unenviable title as being the state with the highest rate of skin cancer in the world , and , in Australia , estimates are that two out of three people will have skin cancer in their lives .
An associate lecturer in mathematics and statistics at USQ , Dexter said although teachers spend the majority of their working days indoors , the times they are required outside for playground duty or supervision coincides with the time of day with peak radiation conditions .
“ The amount of UV radiation exposure for teachers during a school day depends on the timing of school start , finish and meal breaks ,” he said .
“ We found the difference in exposure levels and skin cancer risk between schools based just on the opening , closing and supervision times varied significantly not only throughout the entire state , but within each of the seven education regions .
“ It ’ s quite a concern , especially as this study only looked at teachers who were outside on breaks two times a week , but schoolchildren could potentially spend around 10 times as much time outside at school .”
METHODOLOGY Teachers ’ average daily sun exposure was calculated by using “ local ambient UV radiation data from late year ”. Dexter then introduced solar UV radiation exposure levels “ during outdoor supervision duty and outside school hours to create the relative risk of the two most common types of skin cancer , basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma ”.
Dexter ’ s next task was to compare the risk for these teachers , spanning 1578 schools and Queenland ’ s seven distinct education districts .
RESULTS The PhD candidate ’ s results found that teachers living in northern areas of the
Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay had the biggest variation between other schools in the region , “ suggesting the relative risk could increase by as much as 64 per cent due to the difference in teacher duty schedules and location ”.
In light of such findings , the USQ researcher hoped the results would “ encourage schools , governments and education authorities to consider more thoughtful timetabling ”.
“ Most schools have their breaks around 11am and 1.30pm each day , but having breaks at times when there is less UV radiation would likely lead to a significant reduction in exposure over a whole school year ,” he said .
“ This is particularly the case for schools in more densely populated districts like metropolitan Brisbane , where school opening , closing and break times is a major factor .
“ For instance , in metropolitan Brisbane we found two schools separated only 13km apart had a 15 per cent difference in annual UV radiation exposure . This in turn led to a 44 per cent increased relative risk of squamous cell carcinoma .
“ The main cause for this increase was the schools had their breaks at very different times .”
While Dexter does not diminish the importance of appropriate clothing , hats and sunscreen , he stated that “ avoiding unnecessary sun exposure is still the best way to protect yourself from skin damage ”.
“ Schools have a huge focus on the use of hats , sunscreen and protective clothing worn by schoolchildren , but not many have considered changing their meal break times as a preventive measure for skin cancer ,” he said .
“ Making some simple timetabling changes may not only help save lives , but reducing skin cancer rates would have significant long-term cost benefits to the healthcare system .”
Dexter wants to refine his model and estimates in the future “ by applying Australian derived estimates of nonteaching day exposure timing and durations , as well as location-specific daily cloud cover ”.
Another of his projects will help identify every school ’ s highest UV radiation level during each term . This will then allow schools to schedule breaks wisely to reduce levels of exposure for students and teachers . ■
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