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Saving Your Students' Skin. Undergraduate Experiments that Probe UV Protection by Sunscreens and Sunglasses
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Abstract
Recent scientific evidence suggests that chlorofluorocarbons have substantially depleted the ozone layer, the earth's primary filter for ultraviolet radiation. At the same time, medical evidence has accumulated which suggests that exposure to ultraviolet radiation is a major cause of prevalent human health disorders, including skin cancer and cataracts. For these reasons, consumer purchases of sunscreens and sunglasses, which provide protection from ultraviolet radiation, have soared, and manufacturer interest in improving these products has intensified. This article describes absorption spectroscopy experiments that illustrate the mechanism of action of sunscreens and sunglasses and that highlight the differences between different products. The experiments are well suited to incorporation into an undergraduate science laboratory and will expose students to absorption phenomena in a familiar context with substantial environmental and medical relevance.
Keywords (Audience):
First-Year Undergraduate / GeneralKeywords (Domain):
Environmental ChemistryKeywords (Pedagogy):
Hands-On Learning / ManipulativesKeywords (Subject):
PhotochemistryCiting Articles
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This article has been cited by 6 ACS Journal articles (5 most recent appear below).
Investigating UV-Blocking Properties of Sunscreens on the Microscale
Jeremiah K. N. Mbindyo and Amber K. BrownJournal of Chemical Education2010 87 (12), 1388-1388Investigating UV-Blocking Properties of Sunscreens on the Microscale
Jeremiah K. N. Mbindyo and Amber K. BrownJournal of Chemical Education2010 87 (12), 1388-1388A laboratory experiment exploring the effectiveness of various types of sunscreens in blocking UV light, which previously appeared in this Journal, has been adapted to the microscale. The experiment is used in an undergraduate environmental chemistry ...
An Introduction to UV-Vis Spectroscopy Using Sunscreens
Harriet P. Moeur , Andrew Zanella and Thomas PoonJournal of Chemical Education2006 83 (5), 769An Introduction to UV-Vis Spectroscopy Using Sunscreens
Harriet P. Moeur , Andrew Zanella and Thomas PoonJournal of Chemical Education2006 83 (5), 769Two commercially available lotions that utilize only one active ingredient as a sunscreen were used to develop a general chemistry laboratory experiment involving the quantitative determination of the active component in each lotion by UV–vis ...
Testing for Ultraviolet Toxicity Using Fungi
Marcelo Vital and Patricia EsperónJournal of Chemical Education2005 82 (6), 926Testing for Ultraviolet Toxicity Using Fungi
Marcelo Vital and Patricia EsperónJournal of Chemical Education2005 82 (6), 926A relevant subject in biochemistry is the study of diverse effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on organisms. While short exposure of culture cells to UV radiation may produce point mutations, deletions, or rearrangements, long exposure may lead to ...
Two-Step Semi-Microscale Preparation of a Cinnamate Ester Sunscreen Analog
Ryan G. Stabile and Andrew P. DicksJournal of Chemical Education2004 81 (10), 1488Two-Step Semi-Microscale Preparation of a Cinnamate Ester Sunscreen Analog
Ryan G. Stabile and Andrew P. DicksJournal of Chemical Education2004 81 (10), 1488The two-step synthesis and characterization of a sunscreen analog (ethyl trans-4-methoxycinnamate) is presented. This experiment is tailored towards students with a sound theoretical understanding of organic chemistry and related laboratory techniques. ...
A Simple Preparative Method to Evaluate Total UV Protection by Commercial Sunscreens
Shouei Fujishige , Sumiko Takizawa and Kaoru TsuzukiJournal of Chemical Education2001 78 (12), 1678A Simple Preparative Method to Evaluate Total UV Protection by Commercial Sunscreens
Shouei Fujishige , Sumiko Takizawa and Kaoru TsuzukiJournal of Chemical Education2001 78 (12), 1678The optical transparency of a cellulose membrane in the UV region is equivalent to that of a high-quality quartz plate. A simple preparative method to obtain UV absorption spectra of sunscreens over two length regions, UVB and UVA, is presented with some ...
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- Received: August 03, 2009
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