Introduction Exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is the main cause of malignant melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and basal cell carcinoma of the skin, a risk factor of cataract, and the primary predictor of Vitamin-D levels. The UVR exposure level depends on several factors such as time of day, season, latitude and altitude, activity, and vary across occupations, with high levels reported in various outdoor jobs. Personal measurements are typically reported as full shift cumulative Standard Erythema Dose (SED).

Objective To conduct a systematic review of occupational solar UVR exposure levels.

Methods We performed a PubMed search for literature presenting personal solar UVR exposure levels measured by wearable UVR sensors during work and added papers identified from reference lists. We screened title and abstract of 1,005 papers, full text reviewed 113 papers, and extracted data from 42 included studies. Job descriptions were coded according to the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO-88) on the 4-digit level.

Results In total, UVR exposure levels of 35,345 personal workday measurements of mainly construction workers, farmers, seamen, teachers, expeditioners, and athletes were included. They covered all year, 6am - 6pm working hours, latitudes from 20–75° north and 10–68° south, and altitudes in the 0–8000 m range. Repeated measurements were included in 76% of the studies. Eleven different polysulphone film, UV-sensitive spore, or electronic irradiance sensors placed on head, neck, shoulder, chest, back, arm, or wrist were used. Exposure levels varied between 0.4 SED for laboratory workers and 28.6 SED for construction workers.

Conclusion The established measurement database will be used in the development of a general population quantitative job exposure matrix (JEM) as part of the European Exposome Project for Health and Occupational Research (EPHOR). The UV-JEM will be applied in multi-centre European occupational cohort studies of adverse and beneficial effects of exposure to UVR.