Defined UV protection by apparel textiles

This article was written to update information on test methods and standard s for determining the UV protection of apparel textiles and on factors affe cting UV protective properties of fabrics, from dermatological and textile technological viewpoints. Articles from dermatological and textile technolo gical journals published from 1990 to 2001 were identified from MEDLINE, Ex cerpta Medica/EMBASE, World Textiles, and Textile Technology Digest. Peer-r eviewed dermatological articles, textile technological research articles, a nd normative publications were selected. Independent data extraction was pe rformed by several observers. Spectrophotometry is the preferred method for determining UV protection factor of textile materials. Various textile qua lities affect the UV protection factor of a finished garment; important ele ments are the fabric porosity, type, color, weight, and thickness. The appl ication of UV absorbers in the yarns significantly improves the UV protecti on factor of a garment. With wear and use, several factors can alter the UV protective properties of a textile, including stretch, wetness, and degrad ation due to laundering. Standards in the field exist in Australia and Grea t Britain, and organizations such as the European Standardization Commissio n in Europe and the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists and the American Society for Testing and Materials in the United States are also establishing standards for the determination and labeling of sun prot ective clothing. Various textile qualities and conditions of wear and use a ffect UV protective properties of apparel textiles. The use of UV bloc-king fabrics can provide excellent protection against the hazards of sunlight; this is especially true for garments manufactured as UV protective clothing .