About this Research Topic
This collection is a Volume II following on from the Topic Editors' previously successful Research Topic, Environmental or Occupational Exposure to Optical Radiation: Risk Evaluation, Health Effects and Prevention - Tangible Innovation for Public and Occupational Health?.
The first volume of this Research Topic included research that mainly focused on the prevention of the health risks related to excessive occupational exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation. The topic is still extremely relevant: recently the joint effort of the World Health Organization together with the International Labour Office has produced estimates of the Global Burden of solar UV-inflicted non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) in occupationally exposed workers. The results are alarming: working under the sun causes 19,000 deaths from NMS which means that 1-in-3 deaths from NMSCs, as 1.6 billion workers in the world are exposed to solar UVR. Considering these points, it is fundamental to relaunch this topic in accordance to provide additional insights into occupational optical radiation-related health risks and prevention.
The objective of the second volume is to provide the newest advancements in the research field of occupational exposure to optical radiation. As in the first volume, both artificial as well as natural sources of exposure will be considered, and articles dealing with new technologies and innovative methods will be particularly welcomed. Furthermore, this second volume aims to provide an updated panorama of the post-pandemic and climate-changing world we are living in, and the risks related to environmental and occupational exposure to optical radiations in these contexts. All the different components of optical radiation and the various types of activities at risk are of interest. Articles dealing with possible optical radiation related adverse effects in welders would be of particular interest, as uveal melanoma has been included in the 2018 IARC monograph on the evaluation of welding, while scant data are available e.g. on possible associations with skin tumours. Other important issues of interest with insufficient scientific data in current literature from epidemiologic human studies dealing with present-day sources are the possible adverse ocular effects associated with long-term blue light, infrared and LASER exposure. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the health risks related to solar UV radiation are the most predominant in terms of both the number of people exposed as well as of diseases caused.
As per the goals described, the main themes of interest to this collection are:
• Risk assessment methods for optical radiation exposure to identify adequate preventive measures to protect people and reduce adverse health consequences;
• The study of the burden of optical radiation-related diseases and injuries, considering main targets of damage as the skin and the eyes, as well as other potential targets e.g. immune system;
• The identification of major factors involved as mediators and/or co-risk factors for the appearance of optical radiation-related adverse health effects;
• The evaluation of the effectiveness of available prevention strategies to reduce the incidence of optical radiation-related diseases and injuries.
The first volume of this Research Topic included research that mainly focused on the prevention of the health risks related to excessive occupational exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation. The topic is still extremely relevant: recently the joint effort of the World Health Organization together with the International Labour Office has produced estimates of the Global Burden of solar UV-inflicted non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) in occupationally exposed workers. The results are alarming: working under the sun causes 19,000 deaths from NMS which means that 1-in-3 deaths from NMSCs, as 1.6 billion workers in the world are exposed to solar UVR. Considering these points, it is fundamental to relaunch this topic in accordance to provide additional insights into occupational optical radiation-related health risks and prevention.
The objective of the second volume is to provide the newest advancements in the research field of occupational exposure to optical radiation. As in the first volume, both artificial as well as natural sources of exposure will be considered, and articles dealing with new technologies and innovative methods will be particularly welcomed. Furthermore, this second volume aims to provide an updated panorama of the post-pandemic and climate-changing world we are living in, and the risks related to environmental and occupational exposure to optical radiations in these contexts. All the different components of optical radiation and the various types of activities at risk are of interest. Articles dealing with possible optical radiation related adverse effects in welders would be of particular interest, as uveal melanoma has been included in the 2018 IARC monograph on the evaluation of welding, while scant data are available e.g. on possible associations with skin tumours. Other important issues of interest with insufficient scientific data in current literature from epidemiologic human studies dealing with present-day sources are the possible adverse ocular effects associated with long-term blue light, infrared and LASER exposure. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the health risks related to solar UV radiation are the most predominant in terms of both the number of people exposed as well as of diseases caused.
As per the goals described, the main themes of interest to this collection are:
• Risk assessment methods for optical radiation exposure to identify adequate preventive measures to protect people and reduce adverse health consequences;
• The study of the burden of optical radiation-related diseases and injuries, considering main targets of damage as the skin and the eyes, as well as other potential targets e.g. immune system;
• The identification of major factors involved as mediators and/or co-risk factors for the appearance of optical radiation-related adverse health effects;
• The evaluation of the effectiveness of available prevention strategies to reduce the incidence of optical radiation-related diseases and injuries.
Keywords: skin cancer, cataract, dosimetry, occupational health, occupational exposure, environmental exposure, heat, infrared, blue-light, LED LASER, welding
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