A review on the ability of smartphones to detect ultraviolet (UV) radiation and their potential to be used in UV research and for public education purposes

Joanna Turner; Damien Igoe; Alfio V Parisi; Andrew J McGonigle; Abdurazaq Amar; Lisa Wainwright

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135873

A review on the ability of smartphones to detect ultraviolet (UV) radiation and their potential to be used in UV research and for public education purposes

Sci Total Environ. 2020 Mar 1:706:135873. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135873. Epub 2019 Dec 5.

Authors

Joanna Turner¹, Damien Igoe², Alfio V Parisi², Andrew J McGonigle³, Abdurazaq Amar², Lisa Wainwright²

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia. Electronic address: Joanna.Turner@usq.edu.au.
² Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia.
³ Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia; Department of Geography, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK; School of Geosciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.

PMID: 31862595
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135873

Abstract

The effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on life on Earth have continuously been the subject of research. Over-exposure to UV radiation is harmful, but small amounts of exposure are required for good health. It is, therefore, crucial for humans to optimise their own UV exposure and not exceed UV levels that are sufficient for essential biological functions. Exceeding those levels may increase risk of developing health problems including skin cancer and cataracts. Smartphones have been previously investigated for their ability to detect UV radiation with or without additional devices that monitor personal UV exposure, in order to maintain safe exposure times by individuals. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the current state of smartphones' use in UV radiation monitoring and prediction. There are four main methods for UV radiation detection or prediction involving the use smartphones, depending on the requirements of the user: devoted software applications developed for smartphones to predict UV Index (UVI), wearable and non-wearable devices that can be used with smartphones to provide real-time UVI, and the use of smartphone image sensors to detect UV radiation. The latter method has been a growing area of research over the last decade. Built-in smartphone image sensors have been investigated for UV radiation detection and the quantification of related atmospheric factors (including aerosols, ozone, clouds and volcanic plumes). The overall practicalities, limitations and challenges are reviewed, specifically in regard to public education. The ubiquitous nature of smartphones can provide an interactive tool when considering public education on the effects and individual monitoring of UV radiation exposure, although social and geographic areas with low socio-economic factors could challenge the usefulness of smartphones. Overall, the review shows that smartphones provide multiple opportunities in different forms to educate users on personal health with respect to UV radiation.

Keywords: CMOS; Sensor; Smartphone; UV irradiance; UV radiation; UVA; UVB; Ultraviolet.

Publication types

Review