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UV protection in the car?

Car with passengers in the front and rear, sun protection for the rear side window Sun protection in the car

Anyone who spends time outdoors knows that they need to protect themselves from the sun. But what about in the car? Do car windows protect against UV radiation?

You are well protected from UV-B radiation in your car. It is blocked by all windows. The windshield also protects against UV-A radiation. But it’s different with the side windows: UV-A radiation can pass through them to a greater or lesser extent. This means that even with the windows closed, UV protection in the car is recommended in some situations.

When is UV protection important in the car?

On spring or sunny summer days, protection against excessive UVA radiation is recommended during long car journeys with the windows closed, when the sun shines directly on a person through the window for a long time. This is especially true for children, as their skin is extremely sensitive to UV radiation.

Protective measures

Measures against heat in the car, such as towels hung in the windows, window blinds, or sun visors, also offer protection against UV-A radiation when the windows are closed. However, such items are unsuitable for the driver’s 180-degree field of vision. Transparent UV protection films are ideal for this purpose, as they can effectively reduce UV radiation entering the interior of the car. Tinted UV protection films can also be used in the rear of the car.

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UV index as a guide

The daily UV exposure and therefore the health risk at a location can be estimated using the UV index (UVI). It is published regularly by the German Weather Service and the Federal Office for Radiation Protection. The higher the index, the faster sunburn can occur on unprotected skin

 The scale was developed by the World Health Organization and is internationally standardized. A UVI of 5, for example, means the same in USA as in South Africa.

More and more spring sunshine

In spring, the sun gains strength from day to day, even if the heat is still moderate. Measurement data shows that UV index values that make sun protection necessary can be reached as early as March.

The German Weather Service is also registering more and more hours of sunshine in spring. On average, the sun now shines 87 hours longer across Germany than in the period from 1961 to 1990, which further increases the UV risk.

According to the President of the Federal Office for Radiation Protection, Inge Paulini, not everyone knows that you have to be careful even on sunny spring days. But “the awareness of many people that UV protection is important is growing”.

Water, sand and snow reduce radiation by reflecting it.

Shade, on the other hand, reduces UV exposure: under a parasol, for example, by around 10 to 30 percent, under a large tree with a dense canopy by around 20 percent.

The lighter the skin, the less it can protect itself against sunlight and the more sensitive it reacts. Skin that contains a lot of melanin and is therefore darker is better protected, but skin damage cannot be ruled out here either.

Children and adolescents need special protection as they are much more sensitive to UV rays than adults. Experts recommend that infants and small children under the age of two should not be exposed to the sun at all with uncovered skin.