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A microcomputer program to predict sunburn exposure
Author(s) -
Diffey Brian,
Cameron John R.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
medical physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.473
H-Index - 180
eISSN - 2473-4209
pISSN - 0094-2405
DOI - 10.1118/1.595589
Subject(s) - sunburn , sunlight , erythema , microcomputer , sun protection , medicine , environmental science , computer science , dermatology , optics , telecommunications , physics , chip
A simple microcomputer program written in BASIC calculates the time that can be spent in the sun without risk of sunburn. Seven data are requested by the computer: (1) the month, (2) the weather conditions, (3) the subject's complexion, (4) the subject's activity outdoors, (5) the sun protection factor if a sunscreen is used, (6) the latitude on the Earth's surface, and (7) the time of day at which sun exposure begins. The calculated “safe exposure time” is an estimate for the time to give a minimal erythema dose—a just visible sunburn.