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UV radiation peaks at record high in UK

In the first week of March ultraviolet radiation from the sun reached much higher values than usual, according to Britain's National Radiological Protection Board. Monitoring by the board showed that in Cornwall and Glasgow the peak daily values were double normal values for the time of year, and in Leeds they were 50% higher.

The radiological protection board's director, Professor Roger Clarke, said: "This is the first occasion on which we have measured significantly higher than normal levels of solar UVR [ultraviolet radiation] at ground level in the UK. It is likely that depleted ozone levels in the atmosphere and clear weather conditions over this time period are responsible."

The peak values recorded at the start of the month are more usually observed in April. But they are typically half the normal peak values experienced during high summer, and Professor Clarke said: "They are not considered to represent a significant health hazard since they are short term and only contribute a very small amount to the annual UVR dose."

The board records solar ultraviolet radiation readings every 20 seconds. These are then used to produce a set of mean values every five minutes, together with associated statistical variations. The idea is to provide information on the variation in radiation at different latitudes in the United Kingdom with the time of year and from year to year.--CLAUDIA COURT, BMJ

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