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Published VersionCC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure in playgrounds: an Australian case study
Journal of Urban Design, Vol.31(1), pp.135-153
2026
Appears in UniSC Supported Open Access Outputs
Abstract
Record cases of skin cancer in Australia emphasizes the urgent need for greater Ultraviolet Radiation (UVR) protection, particularly in public spaces and where children spend time. This study analyses the shade provision of 10 parks in the Sunshine Coast (Australia). Methods used include participant observation, shade analysis and UVR measurements. Results highlighted disparities regarding shade effectiveness. Whilst all parks had some form of built shade, playgrounds with dense trees proved more effective in reducing UVR levels. The size, quality, age and shade cloths' placement also impact its protection capacity. Results indicate the need for greater shade-based regulations to guarantee UVR protection.
Details
- Title
- Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure in playgrounds: an Australian case study
- Authors
- Holly Carvolth - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Law and SocietySilvia Tavares (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Law and Society
- Publication details
- Journal of Urban Design, Vol.31(1), pp.135-153
- Publisher
- Routledge
- Date published
- 2026
- DOI
- 10.1080/13574809.2025.2477476
- ISSN
- 1469-9664; 1357-4809
- Copyright note
- © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way. The terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent.
- Organisation Unit
- Bioclimatic and Sociotechnical Cities Lab; Centre for Human Factors and Systems Science; School of Law and Society
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991127097702621
- Output Type
- Journal article
Metrics
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- Web Of Science research areas
- Urban Studies
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Source: InCites