TITLE:
Umbrella with Ultraviolet Radiation Protection
AUTHORS:
Kasama Vejakupta, Montree Udompataikul
KEYWORDS:
Umbrella, Ultraviolet, Protection, Filter Coating, Radius
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Cosmetics, Dermatological Sciences and Applications,
Vol.4 No.4,
August
5,
2014
ABSTRACT: Background:
Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) causes harm to the eye and skin in human. There are
many ways to protect one from UVR. Umbrella is widely used due to its
convenience as well as its ability to protect one from rain. However, there are
limited numbers of studies on UVR protection of different types of umbrellas.
Objective of study: To determine UVR protection efficacy of different umbrella
designs. Methods: The experimental study was performed on five sunny days. Six
manikins were placed in an open area, five of which were equipped with five
different types of black canopy umbrellas. One manikin was placed without an
umbrella as a control sample. Polysulfone film badges were attached in six
different areas in each manikin for measuring the UVR from 10 am - 3 pm Results: All types of umbrellas provides 64.5% - 92.3% UVR photo protection
efficacy. An umbrella with UV-filter coating on the inner surface provides
maximum UVR photo protection efficacy. However, UVR proto protection efficacies
of an umbrella with UV-filter coating on the inner surface and one with
UV-filter coating on the outer surface and one without UV-filter coating are
not statistically significant (p-value = 0.37). Umbrellas with a diameter of
122 cm and 152 cm provide comparable UVR photo protection efficacy while an
umbrella with a diameter of 112 cm provides the least UVR photo protection
efficacy. However, UVR photo protection efficacies of umbrellas with different
diameter are not statistically significant (p-value = 0.36). The area of the
body that received the most UVR photo protection is the forehead which is
statistically significant when compared with other areas of the body (p-value