Risks and Ultraviolet Budgets using Earth Observation (RUBEO): Including a nonstandard atmosphere and geographic ozone trend differences in risk assessments

No RIVM report number in publicationUV-budget maps (the geographical distribution of effective UV at ground level) can be derived from satellite data. These UV-budget maps visualise changes in effective UV caused by ozone depletion and changes in cloud cover and aerosol content. Alterations in UV-budget maps over time give - in combination with dose-effect models for UV-induced effects - insight in the associated risks for human health and the environment. This report describes the results of the RUBEO-project: calculating Risks and Ultraviolet Budgets using Earth Observation (RUBEO). RUBEO aims at a better cloud parameterisation and incorporating temporal and spatial resolution for surface albedo, aerosol content and tropospheric ozone content. The geographical distribution of ozone and UV climatology and trends over Europe are analysed, and a cost-benefit analysis of satellite based UV budget mapping is provided. The UV-budget mapping can be applied using TOMS and GOME ozone data. A large scale statistical analysis of cloud effects is given comparing ISCCP and TOMS based remote sensing methods with cloud effects derived from ground measurements. Both satellite derived methods correlate well (r 0.93) with the ground based analysis. Correction for non-zero albedo, under clear sky conditions, adds maximal 8% to the yearly effective UV-budget. Temporal and spatial differences in aerosol optical thickness and tropospheric ozone content, result in a decrease in effective UV of 3% for every 0.1 increase in aerosol optical thickness, and in a decrease in effective UV of 4% for every 10 DU increase in tropospheric ozone. Stratospheric ozone trends of -1 to -4% per decade observed over Europe correspond to a 0.5 to 4% increase in skin cancer weighted effective UV. The largest trends are seen in the central part of Western Europe. At present satellite based UV-budget maps form a functional basis for trend analysis and risk assessment. However, satellite data and ground-based observations are both indispensable. Maps for changing UV-budgets and associated skin cancer risks have been used in 'state of the environment', reports. Such overviews, regularly published by the Dutch National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) and the European Environmental Agency (EPA), support the evaluation and formulation of adequate environmental policies. This report describes a project carried out in the framework of the Users Support Programme (USP-2), under responsibility of the Netherlands Remote Sensing Board (BCRS).Beleidscommissie Remote Sensing (BCRS

Climatology of Ultraviolet Budgets using Earth Observation (CUBEO): mapping UV from the perspective of risk assessments : final report

No RIVM report number in publicationThe use of satellite data to construct ground level UV-radiation maps offers a unique opportunity to investigate geographical and temporal variability of ground level UV-radiation levels related to atmospheric changes, like ozone depletion or cloud changes. The calculation of long term yearly UV-doses in combination with dose-effect models for UV-related effects, like skin cancer, further enhances the application of UV-maps as a powerful tool to support environmental assessments. This report describes the results obtained in the CUBEO-project: a Climatology of Ultraviolet Budgets using Earth Observation. The project aimed at the development and validation of UV-mapping methods that can be applied in environmental assessments. The results indicated that the satellite derived cloud correction provides accurate and representative results if the ground albedo is low. The comparison with ground based UV-measurements at different sites in Europe shows an agreement for the yearly UV-dose within 10%. An indication of the long term stability of the UV-mapping methods is obtained by means of a systematic comparison of UV-doses derived from ground based ozone and cloud data and doses derived from satellite observations over a period of nearly 20 years. The European maps of changes in UV-budgets at the ground and associated excess skin cancer risks have been reported in national and international state of the environment reports published by the National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) and/or the European Environmental Agency (EEA). These state of the environment reports contribute to the provision of information necessary for framing and implementing sound and effective environmental policies. This investigation has been performed by order and for the account of BCRS, EU and RIVM, within the framework of the projects CUBEO and MAUVE.Beleidscommissie Remote Sensing (BCRS

Worldwide variations in artificial skyglow

Open access journalDespite constituting a widespread and significant environmental change, understanding of artificial nighttime skyglow is extremely limited. Until now, published monitoring studies have been local or regional in scope, and typically of short duration. In this first major international compilation of monitoring data we answer several key questions about skyglow properties. Skyglow is observed to vary over four orders of magnitude, a range hundreds of times larger than was the case before artificial light. Nearly all of the study sites were polluted by artificial light. A non-linear relationship is observed between the sky brightness on clear and overcast nights, with a change in behavior near the rural to urban landuse transition. Overcast skies ranged from a third darker to almost 18 times brighter than clear. Clear sky radiances estimated by the World Atlas of Artificial Night Sky Brightness were found to be overestimated by ~25%; our dataset will play an important role in the calibration and ground truthing of future skyglow models. Most of the brightly lit sites darkened as the night progressed, typically by ~5% per hour. The great variation in skyglow radiance observed from site-to-site and with changing meteorological conditions underlines the need for a long-term international monitoring program.MILIEU (FU Berlin)Federal Ministry of Education and Research, GermanyEU COST Action ES1204 (Loss of the Night Network)European Research Council (ERC) under the EU's Seventh Framework Program (FP7/2007-2013)panish Network for Light Pollution StudiesNational Aeronautics and Space Administration (Goddard Space Flight Center)Ohio State UniversityUniversity of IowaThe Adam Mickiewicz Universit

Genetic analysis of the vitamin D receptor gene in two epithelial cancers: melanoma and breast cancer case-control studies

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Vitamin D serum levels have been found to be related to sun exposure and diet, together with cell differentiation, growth control and consequently, cancer risk. Vitamin D receptor (<it>VDR</it>) genotypes may influence cancer risk; however, no epidemiological studies in sporadic breast cancer (BC) or malignant melanoma (MM) have been performed in a southern European population. In this study, the <it>VDR </it>gene has been evaluated in two epithelial cancers BC and MM.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We have conducted an analysis in 549 consecutive and non-related sporadic BC cases and 556 controls, all from the Spanish population, and 283 MM cases and 245 controls. Genotyping analyses were carried out on four putatively functional SNPs within the <it>VDR </it>gene.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>An association with the minor allele A of the non-synonymous SNP rs2228570 (rs10735810, <it>Fok</it>I, Met1Thr) was observed for BC, with an estimated odds ratio (OR) of 1.26 (95% CI = 1.02–1.57; p = 0.036). The synonymous variant rs731236 (<it>Taq</it>I) appeared to be associated with protection from BC (OR = 0.80, 95%CI = 0.64–0.99; p = 0.047). No statistically significant associations with MM were observed for any SNP. Nevertheless, sub-group analyses revealed an association between rs2228570 (<it>FokI</it>) and absence of childhood sunburns (OR = 0.65, p = 0.003), between the 3'utr SNP rs739837 (<it>Bgl</it>I) and fair skin (OR = 1.31, p = 0.048), and between the promoter SNP rs4516035 and the more aggressive tumour location in head-neck and trunk (OR = 1.54, p = 0.020).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In summary, we observed associations between SNPs in the <it>VDR </it>gene and BC risk, and a comprehensive analysis using clinical and tumour characteristics as outcome variables has revealed potential associations with MM. These associations required confirmation in independent studies.</p

Controlling waves in space and time for imaging and focusing in complex media

In complex media such as white paint and biological tissue, light encounters nanoscale refractive-index inhomogeneities that cause multiple scattering. Such scattering is usually seen as an impediment to focusing and imaging. However, scientists have recently used strongly scattering materials to focus, shape and compress waves by controlling the many degrees of freedom in the incident waves. This was first demonstrated in the acoustic and microwave domains using time reversal, and is now being performed in the optical realm using spatial light modulators to address the many thousands of spatial degrees of freedom of light. This approach is being used to investigate phenomena such as optical super-resolution and the time reversal of light, thus opening many new avenues for imaging and focusing in turbid medi

Lokale detectie-efficiëntie van de gammadetectoren : NMR-meetposten

Het Nationaal Meetnet Radioactiviteit (NMR) is een waarschuwingsmeetnet voor stralingsongevallen en bestaat uit 167 meetlocaties. Op de meetlocaties staan gammadetectoren die het stralingsniveau van een passerende wolk met radionucliden kunnen bepalen. Het NMR geeft inzicht in de omvang en het verloop van een radioactieve besmetting tijdens een stralingsongeval. In de praktijk staan de gammadetectoren niet op een ideaal groot en leeg grasveld maar staan er objecten zoals bomen en gebouwen in de buurt. Deze objecten beïnvloeden de mate van de radioactieve besmetting of schermen de straling af die afkomstig is van de achterliggende gebieden. Het RIVM heeft een methode ontwikkeld om het totale effect van deze objecten in verhouding tot de ideale situatie te kunnen bepalen, de zogeheten lokale detectie-efficiëntie. Vóór deze studie was niet duidelijk welke objecten relevant zijn en tot welke afstand dat aan de orde is. Op een ideaal grasveld wordt de besmetting tot een afstand van ongeveer 500 meter in een keer gemeten. Uit deze studie blijkt dat het voldoende is de omgeving van elke meetlocatie binnen een straal van slechts 8 meter nauwkeurig in kaart te brengen. Voor dit doel worden foto's van de omgeving gemaakt tijdens het reguliere onderhoud van de meetlocaties. Voor afstanden groter dan 8 meter volstaat een algemene methode die gebruikmaakt van het Geografisch Informatie Systeem (GIS) van het RIVM. Met de algemene methode is al voor elke meetlocatie de lokale detectie-efficiëntie bepaald; in een later stadium moet de informatie over de eerste 8 meter nog daarin worden verwerkt.The National Monitoring network of Radiation (NMR) is an early warning system for nuclear accidents and comprises 167 measuring locations. Gamma detectors at each measuring location are able to determine the level of radioactivity of a passing cloud containing radionuclides. The network gives insight into the extent and development of the radioactive contamination during a nuclear accident. Genenarly , the surroudings of gamma detectors are not ideal, i.e. on a relatively large and empty grass field without objects such as trees and nearby buildings. Such objects influence the radioactive contamination or shield from radiation emanating from places located further away. RIVM has developed a method that assesses the total influence of these objects relative to the ideal situation, the so-called local detection efficiency (LDE). Little information concerning the importance of the various objects and the distances to which it applies was available at the start of the project. In an ideal situation, an area up to 500 meters is measured at once. This project shows that it is sufficient to accurately map the direct surrounding of a detector only up to 8 meters. For this purpose, photographs of the surroundings are made during scheduled maintenance of the network. For distances beyond 8 meters, a more generic approach suffices that uses the Geographical Information System (GIS) of RIVM. The local detection efficiency for each detector has already been determined by applying this generic approach; at a later stage information on the local surroundings, up to 8 meters, should still be incorporated in the results.CBRNe-responsorganisatie: Beheer Nationaal Meetnet Radioactivitei

Risks and Ultraviolet Budgets using Earth Observation (RUBEO): Including a nonstandard atmosphere and geographic ozone trend differences in risk assessments

No RIVM report number in publication<br

Climate and ozone change effects on ultraviolet radiation and risks (COEUR). Using and validating earth observation

Naar schatting zullen er rond 2050 in Nederland ieder jaar ongeveer 1500 tot 2000 extra gevallen van huidkanker bijkomen doordat de ozonlaag is aangetast. Deze toename bedraagt 10 tot 12 procent van het aantal nieuwe gevallen voordat de ozonlaag aangetast werd. Als in deze schattingen het effect van de vergrijzing wordt meegenomen, zal het aantal gevallen van huidkanker nog verder stijgen. Zonder het succesvolle internationale beleid om de ozonlaag te beschermen zou de toename nog veel hoger uitkomen. Het aantal huidkankergevallen rond 2050 kan alsnog sterk worden teruggebracht als mensen, kinderen in het bijzonder, vandaag de dag verantwoord zonnen. Dit blijkt uit nieuwe berekeningen van het RIVM, dat in samenwerking met andere instituten het zogeheten AMOUR-model heeft ontwikkeld. Hiermee kunnen de gevolgen van ozonaantasting voor het UV-klimaat en voor daarmee samenhangende risico's op huidkanker worden ingeschat. Aantasting van de ozonlaag en klimaatverandering beinvloeden de intensiteit van de UV-straling op de grond en kunnen daarmee de kans op huidkanker vergroten. In dit rapport is een verbeterde versie van het AMOUR-model beschreven en (deels) gevalideerd. Het model koppelt satellietgegevens over ozon en bewolking aan berekeningen over UV-straling op de grond. Daarmee worden lokaal veranderingen in het UV-klimaat in kaart gebracht. Daarnaast gebruikt het model historische gegevens over gebruik en concentraties van ozonafbrekende stoffen. Bovendien gebruikt het scenario's voor de productie en emissie van ozonafbrekende stoffen zoals die zijn voortgekomen uit het succesvolle internationale verdrag om de ozonlaag te herstellen, het (aangescherpte) Montreal Protocol. Resultaten van Europese en mondiale scenarioberekeningen en trendanalyses zijn beschikbaar via internet in het webdossier UV, ozonlaag en klimaat. Ga naar http://www.rivm.nl/uv en kies dan het dossier UV ozonlaag en klimaat, of ga rechtstreeks naar http://www.rivm.nl/milieuportaal/dossier/uv-ozon-en-klimaat/.The AMOUR2.0 assessment model for ultraviolet radiation and risks is presented. With this model it is possible to relate ozone depletion scenarios to (changes in) skin cancer incidence. The estimation of UV maps is integrated in the model. The satellite-based method to estimate UV maps is validated for EPTOMS data against ground measurements for 17 locations in Europe. For most ground stations the estimates for the yeardose agree within 5%. Deviations are related to high ground albedo. A suggestion has been made for improvement of the albedo-correction. The AMOUR2.0 UV estimate was found to correspond better with ground measurements than the models from NASA, TEMIS (ESA) and FMI (Finnish Meteorological Institute). The EPTOMS-UV product and the FMI model overestimate the UV dose. The TEMIS model has a good clear-sky correspondence with ground measurement, but overestimates UV in clouded situations. Satellite measurements of ozone and historic chlorine level have been used to make global estimates for future ozone levels for a collection of emission scenarios for ozone depleting substances. Analysis of the 'best guess' scenario, shows that the minimum in ozone level will be reached within 15 years from now. In 2050 the UV dose for Europe will to a large extent have returned to the values observed in 1980 if there is no climate-change driven alteration in cloud patterns. Future incidence maps up to the year 2100 are estimated with the dose-effect relation presented in an earlier study. This is done for three UV related types of skin-cancer: Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC), Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) and Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma (CMM). For a stationary population, global incidences of BCC and CMM are expected to peak around the year 2065 and for SCC around 2040.NIVRSO

Validation of ultraviolet radiation budgets using satellite observations from the OMI instrument

UV-B gegevens afkomstig van het Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) zijn op dit moment nog onvoldoende nauwkeurig voor milieu-evaluaties. Verbetering is mogelijk door lokale concentraties van stofdeeltjes in de lucht in de berekeningen te betrekken. Dit concludeert het RIVM nadat UV-B-data van het OMI-instrument en acht grondstations in Europa zijn vergeleken. Het OMI-instrument zit aan boord van een NASA-satelliet en is erop gericht de ozonlaag te observeren, evenals luchtvervuiling en gassen die bijdragen aan de klimaatveranderingen. Nauwkeurige gegevens over UV-straling zijn nodig om het effect van de aantasting van de ozonlaag te kennen. De ozonlaag absorbeert UV-straling van de zon. Elk jaar krijgen meer dan 20 duizend Nederlanders huidkanker, van wie er ongeveer vijfhonderd overlijden. De belangrijkste oorzaak daarvan is blootstelling aan UV-B. De OMI-metingen van de hoeveelheid UV-B straling zijn 7 tot 22 procent hoger dan waarnemingen vanaf de grond. Dat komt vooral doordat er in de lucht meer stofdeeltjes zitten dan waarmee OMI rekent. Stofdeeltjes hinderen de passage van UV-straling door de atmosfeer. Ook onderschat OMI het effect van zware bewolking. Na verbetering van beide aspecten zijn UV-B gegevens van OMI beter bruikbaar voor milieu-evaluaties. De mogelijkheden hiertoe zijn aangetoond met behulp van het AMOUR-model van het RIVM. Dit model gebruikt naast satellietgegevens over ozon en bewolking, lokaal beschikbare gegevens om de hoeveelheid UV-straling op de grond te berekenen. Satellieten geven een regionaal en mondiaal beeld. Zonder satellietgegevens zouden veel extra grondstations nodig zijn om heel Europa te dekken. Echter, satellietinstrumenten degenereren, terwijl op grondstations veel nauwkeuriger en aantoonbaar stabiel gemeten wordt. Juist door de combinatie van satellietobservaties en grondwaarnemingen kan de hoeveelheid UV-B-straling het meest efficient bepaald worden. Validatie van de satellietgegevens met grondwaarnemingen over langere perioden zijn daarbij cruciaal

Validation of ultraviolet radiation budgets using satellite observations from the OMI instrument

UV-B gegevens afkomstig van het Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) zijn op dit moment nog onvoldoende nauwkeurig voor milieu-evaluaties. Verbetering is mogelijk door lokale concentraties van stofdeeltjes in de lucht in de berekeningen te betrekken. Dit concludeert het RIVM nadat UV-B-data van het OMI-instrument en acht grondstations in Europa zijn vergeleken. Het OMI-instrument zit aan boord van een NASA-satelliet en is erop gericht de ozonlaag te observeren, evenals luchtvervuiling en gassen die bijdragen aan de klimaatveranderingen. Nauwkeurige gegevens over UV-straling zijn nodig om het effect van de aantasting van de ozonlaag te kennen. De ozonlaag absorbeert UV-straling van de zon. Elk jaar krijgen meer dan 20 duizend Nederlanders huidkanker, van wie er ongeveer vijfhonderd overlijden. De belangrijkste oorzaak daarvan is blootstelling aan UV-B. De OMI-metingen van de hoeveelheid UV-B straling zijn 7 tot 22 procent hoger dan waarnemingen vanaf de grond. Dat komt vooral doordat er in de lucht meer stofdeeltjes zitten dan waarmee OMI rekent. Stofdeeltjes hinderen de passage van UV-straling door de atmosfeer. Ook onderschat OMI het effect van zware bewolking. Na verbetering van beide aspecten zijn UV-B gegevens van OMI beter bruikbaar voor milieu-evaluaties. De mogelijkheden hiertoe zijn aangetoond met behulp van het AMOUR-model van het RIVM. Dit model gebruikt naast satellietgegevens over ozon en bewolking, lokaal beschikbare gegevens om de hoeveelheid UV-straling op de grond te berekenen. Satellieten geven een regionaal en mondiaal beeld. Zonder satellietgegevens zouden veel extra grondstations nodig zijn om heel Europa te dekken. Echter, satellietinstrumenten degenereren, terwijl op grondstations veel nauwkeuriger en aantoonbaar stabiel gemeten wordt. Juist door de combinatie van satellietobservaties en grondwaarnemingen kan de hoeveelheid UV-B-straling het meest efficient bepaald worden. Validatie van de satellietgegevens met grondwaarnemingen over langere perioden zijn daarbij cruciaal.Satellite retrieval of ozone, clouds, aerosols and ground albedo allows the modelling of ultraviolet (UV)-doses received at the ground. UV-doses derived from satellite observations are highly useful in analyzing regional differences in the effects of ozone depletion and climate change on the biologically effective UV-radiation levels. RIVM has developed and used UV-mapping and UV-risk mapping techniques in environmental assessments in evaluating the effects of ozone depletion and climate change. This project provides a validation study on the OMUVB product by means of a comparison with ground-based measurements. This validation should demonstrate if the OMUVB product can be used from the perspective of long-term environmental trend assessments. Comparing ground-based UV-measurements with the OMUVB product, we show that the product consistently overestimates the UV-doses received at the ground in Europe. The systematic comparison with data from 8 European sites shows on average a 15% overestimate in the yearly integrated UV with a site-to-site variability of around 8%. For four of the more northern sites the overestimation in yearly doses is between 5-10%, and for the four sites that are more southern the deviation is 20-27%. Using the ozone and reflectivity data from the OMI-instrument in combination with the AMOUR-algorithm shows smaller overestimates of on average 5-6% with a similar variability between the sites. The variability between sites is largely caused by aerosol and albedo effects and is reduced to 3% if local data on aerosol and albedo are used. The overestimates in the OMUVB product are primarily due to too low (tropospheric) aerosol loads used for the European sites. In addition, our comparison shows that under heavy clouded conditions the cloud modification factors are too high. This contributes to the overall too high UV-doses of the OMUVB product. Environmental assessments of long-term changes in the biologically effective UV require calculated UV-data using different satellite instruments. We previously showed that RIVM's AMOUR-algorithm in combination with data from the TOMS-instruments compared well with ground-based yearly doses. It was also shown that the influence of clouds were, on average, well accounted for using the TOMS-reflectivity dataset. Results using the OMI produced ozone and reflectivity data do not agree as well with ground-based data as was previously demonstrated for TOMS. Using OMI-data in combination with the AMOUR-algorithm provided better agreement with the ground-based UV-measurements in Europe than the OMUVB product. The analysis documented in this report involves mainly the data version that was operational until the first of February 2008. In view of the preliminary results with the new operational products of OMI, further improvements of the OMUVB product and the use of OMI-ozone and radiative cloud fraction are required and should be possible.Nederlands Instituut voor Vliegtuigontwikkeling en Ruimtevaartwithin the framework of Gebruikersondersteuning GO-2005/9