Don Smith

"Forewarned is forearmed; to be prepared is half the victory."

The words above by Cervantes (Don Quixote II.IV) are apropos to the topic of "Global Harmonization" that will be covered in this "International Regulatory Information" forum.

This second analysis covers the disturbing anti-tanning regulatory situation "down under" in Australia and New Zealand.

Click on the "View Printable Document" link below to read and print out "Global Harmonization Analysis #2: AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND."

The third article in this series will cover the regulatory climate in the United Kingdom.

[ This Message was edited by: Don Smith on 2002-08-23 07:15 ][ This Message was edited by: Don Smith on 2002-08-23 07:19 ]

solarmeter

Unlike France, the OZ instantaneous Eeff dose rate "cap" of 1500 mW/m^2 / 25 = UV Index of 60 ... 5 times erythemally stronger than a Tucson sun UVI of 12.

Using their type 2 MED of 250 J/m^2, the calculation denominator for UVI to MED/hr is 2.77, for type 3 of 350 is 3.88, and for type 4 MED of 450 is 4.99.

So - if bed was putting out max irradiance:

Type 2 is getting 21.7 AU2 MED/hr.
Type 3 is getting 15.5 AU3 MED/hr.
Type 4 is getting 12.0 AU4 MED/hr.

Assuming they keep 0.9 MED as max dose for all three types:

Type 2 Te = 2.5 min.
Type 3 Te = 3.5 min.
Type 4 Te = 4.5 min.

As Don says... those are extremely short exposures for a Max time! Bear in mind however that the output example is equivalent to a 6.9 minute bed here in USA using FDA 156 J/m^2 per type 2 MED:

60 UVI / 1.73 = 34.7 MED/hr.
240 / 34.7 = 6.9 Te.

So in AU the type 2's are really getting screwed; the type 4's less so. And if they end up allowing type 4's 1.3 AU4 MEDs, Te would go up to 6.5 min (almost same as US 6.9 min).

Don - if this keeps up (proliferation of MED definitions), I'm beginning to think a J/m^2 or mJ/cm^2 Eeff meter is the "answer" to uniform comprehension... because that metric is common to the entire world!

Steve

Don Smith

Steve:

Here are what I would like to see become standard units of measure.

Source (unweighted): (In W/m2 and %)
1. Total irradiance
2. Total UVB (280 - 320 nm)
3. PWR UVB (280 - 302 nm)
3. Total UVA (320 - 400 nm)
3a. UVA2 (320 - 340 nm)
3B. UVA1 (340 - 340 nm)
4. PWR VIS (400 - 425 nm)

Weighted (by the appropriate A.S.)
4. Te (time to 4.0 MED) time
5. MED/minute
6. IST (time to 0.75 MED)(for skin type 2A)
7. TTB (time to 1.0 MED (for skin type 2A)

That would take care of 90+% of our needs.

Don

solarmeter

Don,

Yes - that about covers it all. I only have #1, 2 and 5 covered with existing hand held meters. And a few others with some math calculations.

Ideally, a hand held meter could have ~5 different detectors with a rotary switch to select all 11 "standards of measurement", or 11 separate meter models with single detectors (aarrrgh).

And of course a spectroradiometer can be programmed to yield all of that and more, including the many values submitted to FDA on a "compatibility" or a virgin equipment format form.

Since I've managed to confuse most salon owners enough with the models I already have, I'll hold off any new metrics for the time being and see how the international "standards" evolve.

Another universally understood unit is 280-400 nm mW/m^2 Eeff, which the existing model 7 sensor could be used for. It relates directly to WMO UVI (/ 25), and to Te and IST depending on which of the ever increasing MED definitions is utilized.

Can you BELIEVE it: 156, 180, 200, 210, 250, 350, and 450 J/m^2 are now ALL being tossed around as The MED to use? Geeeeze! The first 5 are skin type 2.. others for higher types.

On we go ..........

Steve