Measurement of UV-A Radiation in Car Windows to Better Understand the Risks of Cataract and Skin Cancer
This study published in the prestigious medical journal JAMA Ophthalmology in May 2016, the first of its kind in the United States, looks to build awareness of the risk UV-A damage from driving motor vehicles but also has relevance to other types of windows (homes, schools, office buildings, etc) that make people vulnerable to the effects of the sun.
Dr. Brian and his daughter analyzed 29 automobiles from 15 manufacturers and tested the UV-A blockage from both the front and side windows and found that the average percentage of front windshield UV-A blockage was 96% which was 25% higher than the side-window UV-A blockage. According to Dr. Brian, “Our study found that front windshields offered consistent protection as they are constructed with a clear layer of plastic. The reason for this is to make the windshield “shatter-proof” in the event of an accident. This plastic layer largely contains the UV-A protection. Side windows generally do not have this layer.“
