UV radiation: More measurement data and information for better UV protection

UV measuring station on the roof of the BMUV in Berlin

In summer, the UV radiation of the sun can be particularly intense in Germany. In June, the UV index can reach values of 8 to 9 in the lowlands. But this index, which indicates the strength of UV radiation, is still not widely known. The Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) is once again expanding the UV measuring network, which has been functioning well for many years so that people can obtain even better information about the current UV exposure in their region and thus better protect themselves against the risk of skin cancer.

Christian Kühn, the Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUV), and Inge Paulini, BfS President will commission a new UV measuring station in Berlin for this purpose at the astronomical beginning of summer on 21 June. The probe is located in the centre of Berlin on the roof of the Federal Environment Ministry. Another probe will be set up at the BMUV site in Bonn. Further stations will be added in the coastal towns of Grömitz and Eckernförde in the coming weeks.

"The UV measuring network in Germany makes an important contribution to prevention. UV radiation is a health risk. Without the appropriate protection, it can trigger skin cancer or cataracts. The climate crisis may increase this risk. Because people cannot see or feel UV radiation, it is especially important to be able to measure UV exposure so that citizens can inform and protect themselves", says Kühn.

President of the Federal Office for Radiation Protection, Dr Inge Paulini

"According to the surveys, the risk from UV radiation is known among the population but is often underestimated. The UV index not only helps with risk assessment but also provides guidance on sun protection measures. If you know the current UV index, you can enjoy the sun well protected even in summer", says Paulini.

The UV index is an internationally standardised measure that indicates on a scale of 1 to 11+ how intense the sun’s UV radiation is at the earth's surface. Recommendations for sun protection are assigned to certain value ranges. The UV index thus also provides guidance on which protective measures should be applied and when.

• For values from 1 to 2: no protective measures are required.

• For values from 3 to 7, protective measures are required: seek shade during midday hours, wear protective clothing, a hat, and sunglasses, and use sunscreen with a sufficient protection factor.

  Daily course example

• For values of 8 and above: the exposure is quite high, and protective measures are absolutely necessary. For example, it is best not to be outside at midday, to seek shade during the day, to wear appropriate clothing, hats and sunglasses, and to use sunscreen with a sufficient sun protection factor.

Since 2006, the BfS has published the UV Index based on the measured data of the German UV measuring network on its website. The UV measuring network is an association of several institutions and authorities that determine ground-level UV radiation at the measuring network stations from sunrise to sunset. The German UV measuring network is at a top level in international comparison.

The UV measuring station in Bonn

Thirty years ago, the UV measuring network of the BfS and the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) started with four measuring stations. By the end of 2023, there will be 40 across Germany. The data are continually transmitted to the BfS monitoring centre in Neuherberg near Munich, which then publishes them as a UV index in the form of the daily maximum value and as a daily progression.

The UV measurement data can be accessed at: https://www.bfs.de/uv-aktuell. In addition, many weather apps also show the daily maximum value. In April, the BfS and the BMUV launched the "UV-safe" campaign in order to strengthen UV protection in municipalities, day care centres, schools, and sports clubs.