ISO/CIE 28077:2016

Photocarcinogenesis action spectrum (non-melanoma skin cancers)

ISO/CIE 28077:2016 specifies the action spectrum for photocarcinogenesis of non-melanoma skin cancers.

Spectre d'action de la photocarcinogenèse (cancers de la peau hors mélanome)

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 04-Oct-2016
• ICS: 13.280 - Radiation protection
• ICS: 17.180.20 - Colours and measurement of light
• Technical Committee: CIE - International Commission on Illumination
• Drafting Committee: CIE - International Commission on Illumination
• Parallel Committee: ISO/TC 274 - Light and lighting
• Current Stage: 9599 - Withdrawal of International Standard
• Start Date: 04-Oct-2024
• Completion Date: 30-Oct-2025

Relations

• Consolidated By: ISO 23821:2022 - Cosmetics - Analytical methods - Determination of traces of mercury in cosmetics by atomic absorbtion spectrometry (AAS) cold vapour technology after pressure digestion
• Effective Date: 06-Jun-2022
• Revised: ISO/CIE 28077:2024 - Photocarcinogenesis action spectrum (non-melanoma skin cancers)
• Effective Date: 10-Dec-2022
• Revises: ISO 28077:2006 - Photocarcinogenesis action spectrum (non-melanoma skin cancers)
• Effective Date: 05-Nov-2015

Overview

ISO/CIE 28077:2016 defines an action spectrum (weighting function) for photocarcinogenesis of non‑melanoma skin cancers. The standard provides tabulated and graphical values that quantify the relative effectiveness of ultraviolet (UV) radiation across wavelengths (250 nm–400 nm) for inducing non‑melanoma skin tumours. The action spectrum is derived from experimental laboratory data (primarily animal studies) and was adjusted to estimate human skin response for use in risk assessment and regulatory applications.

Key topics

• Scope and purpose: Specifies a biological hazard function used to relate UV dose to photocarcinogenic risk for non‑melanoma skin cancers.
• Spectral range and data: Tabulated effectiveness values and a plotted action spectrum are provided for wavelengths from about 250 nm up to 400 nm; values are normalized within the table (peak ≈1 at ~299 nm).
• Experimental basis and limitations:
  • Principal data originate from mouse models (SCUP - Skin Cancer Utrecht‑Philadelphia) with an estimated human correction (SCUP‑h).
  • Experimental evidence is sufficient down to ~250 nm; data are not sufficient above 400 nm.
  • Noted uncertainties in the UV‑A1 region (340–400 nm), where fine structure is ill‑defined; the committee flattened the plateau near 340 nm to reduce uncertainty for regulatory use.
• Format and content: Includes definitions, tabulated and exponential effectiveness values, a plotted action spectrum (Figure 1), and a bibliography of foundational studies.

Applications

ISO/CIE 28077:2016 is intended for professionals and organizations that need a standardized spectral weighting for assessing UV‑induced skin cancer risk:

• Public health and environmental agencies - for population risk assessments related to solar UV exposure and ozone‑depletion scenarios.
• Occupational safety and regulators - to develop exposure limits, workplace guidance, and regulatory policy involving UV sources.
• Research and photobiology - for dose‑response studies, epidemiology, and modelling of photocarcinogenic risk.
• Instrument manufacturers and laboratories - to implement biologically effective UV measurements and spectral weighting in radiometers and measurement protocols.
• Lighting and UV device designers - for risk evaluation of artificial UV sources (note: the standard cautions against exploiting uncertain fine structure for lamp optimization).

Related standards

• CIE S 017/E:2011 (International Lighting Vocabulary) - referenced for terms and definitions.
• CIE 138/2 (Action Spectrum for Photocarcinogenesis) - prior CIE report forming the basis of the action spectrum.
• ISO 28077:2006 - previous edition replaced by ISO/CIE 28077:2016.

Keywords: ISO/CIE 28077:2016, photocarcinogenesis action spectrum, non‑melanoma skin cancer, UV action spectrum, biologically effective UV, SCUP, UV risk assessment.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO/CIE
STANDARD 28077
Second edition
2016-10-01
Photocarcinogenesis action spectrum
(non-melanoma skin cancers)
Spectre d’action de la photocarcinogenèse (cancers de la peau hors
mélanome)
Reference number
©
ISO/CIE 2016
© ISO/CIE 2016, Published in Switzerland
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form
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ii © ISO/CIE 2016 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms, definitions, symbols and abbreviations . 1
3.1 Terms and definitions . 1
3.2 Symbols and abbreviations . 1
4 The action spectrum for photocarcinogenesis of non-melanoma skin cancers .1
5 Tabulated and graphic values . 2
Bibliography . 7
© ISO/CIE 2016 – All rights reserved iii

Foreword
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bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
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electrotechnical standardization.
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described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
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Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) see the following URL: www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
ISO/CIE 28077 was prepared by CIE Technical Committee 6-32, Action Spectrum for Photocarcinogenesis,
as CIE S 019. The committee responsible for this document is ISO/TC 274, Light and lighting.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 28077:2006), of which it constitutes a
minor revision.
iv © ISO/CIE 2016 – All rights reserved

Introduction
Solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is recognized as a major cause of non-melanoma skin cancer in
human beings. Skin cancer occurs most frequently in the most heavily exposed areas and correlates
with degree of outdoor exposure. Describing the relationship of exposure (dose) to risk (skin cancer)
requires the availability of a biological hazard function or action spectrum for photocarcinogenesis. This
document proposes the adoption of an action spectrum (weighting function) derived from experimental
laboratory data and modified to estimate the non-melanoma tumour response in human skin. The
experimental data are sufficient for estimating effectiveness down to about 250 nm, but experimental
data are not sufficient for specifying effectiveness above 400 nm.
© ISO/CIE 2016 – All rights reserved v

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/CIE 28077:2016(E)
Photocarcinogenesis action spectrum (non-melanoma skin
cancers)
1 Scope
This document specifies the action spectrum for photocarcinogenesis of non-melanoma skin cancers.
2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.
3 Terms, definitions, symbols and abbreviations
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in CIE S 017/E:2011 and the following
terms and definitions, symbols and abbreviations apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp
3.1 Terms and definitions
3.1.1
ultraviolet radiation
UVR
radiation for which the wavelengths are shorter than those for visible radiation
Note 1 to entry: The range between 100 nm and 400 nm is commonly subdivided into: UV-A: 315 nm to 400 nm;
UV-B: 280 nm to 315 nm; UV-C: 100 nm to 280 nm.
[SOURCE: CIE S 017/E:2011, Term 17-1367, modified —Notes 2 and 3 have been omitted.]
3.2 Symbols and abbreviations
SCUP Skin Cancer Utrecht-Philadelphia (an action spectrum proposed in Reference [1])
SCUP-m designates the original SCUP action spectrum, based entirely on mouse data
SCUP-h designates a proposed action spectrum estimated by correcting for differences in UV
transmissions between human and murine epidermis
UV-A1 wavelength range from 340 nm to 400 nm
UV-A2 wavelength range from 315 nm to 340 nm
4 The action spectrum for photocarcinogenesis of non-melanoma skin cancers
The effectiveness of ultraviolet radiation in causing photocarcinogenesis of non-melanoma skin cancers
[1-16]
has been studied for many years . The action spectrum defined in this document was first published
[16]
by the CIE as the product of research by CIE Technical Committee 6-32, as CIE 138/2. The document
stated the following recognized limitations to this action spectrum:
© ISO/CIE 2016 – All rights reserved 1

“The UV-A1 part (340 nm–400 nm) of the SCUP action spectra has large margins of uncertainty
(from 10 %–20 % at 340 nm to an order of magnitude at 390 nm); the minimum at 350 nm and
especially the secondary maximum at 380 nm are not well defined. Recent biochemical data do,
however, indicate that action spectra for some types of DNA damage from reactive oxygen species,
such as released by UV-A, show a minimum around 350 nm.
Exploiting this as yet ill-defined fine structure in the UV-A1 region of the SCUP-h action spectrum
(e.g. for optimizing commercial tanning lamps) would be unjustified. Because the Committee report
should provide a standard for risk assessment in regulatory applications, its recommendation
eliminates the uncertainty associated with the fine structure of the SCUP-h action spectrum.
Committee consensus involved flattening the plateau at the 340 nm level. Mathematically, this
results
...