Abstract
PRELIMINARY spectroscopic experiments have been made to determine the absorption of ultra-violet light by human perspiration. The results, so far only qualitative, indicate that a film of sweat one millimetre thick absorbs light slightly in the region of 3300 A., very appreciably at 2900 A., and is practically opaque at 2700 A. Since sunburn is induced principally by light of wave-lengths lying between 2900 A. and 3100 A., these results indicate that human sweat acts as a partial protection against sunburn to a degree which depends upon the thickness of the layer.
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CREW, W. Perspiration and Erythema. Nature 136, 340 (1935). https://doi.org/10.1038/136340a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/136340a0
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