The Built Environment and Ultraviolet Light as Environmental Concerns in Sport

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Top Contributors - Wanda van Niekerk and Jess Bell  

Built Environment as Environmental Concern

Practice/competition facilities

Playing surface

Lighting

The task of lighting a sports field is a complex and important feature. Adequate and suitable lighting helps both athletes and spectators in terms of general safety. Poor lighting may increase the risk of injury and may even influence the course of the match played. Proper illumination of a sports playing field can improve player performance, reduce injury risk and the competition may be more balanced. Bright stadium lights may be distracting, but with the use of light emitting diodes (LED) lighting this can be addressed. Light Emitting Diodes (LED) lighting used in sports are different than the type of lighting used in offices and homes. The brightness of these lights are closer to the brightness of the sun and it improves visibility and clarity. It also allows for uniform lighting on a sports field which can make tracking a ball easier for instance.

Interesting blog post to read: How does LED light improve sports players performance

Spectator proximity / behaviour

Spectator behaviour can influence athlete performance in various ways:

Spectators can be supportive or non-supportive and influence the psychological aspects of athletes

The presence of spectators has been shown to "enhance the dominant responses of the performer" McCarrick et al. analysed home advantage in European football leagues of the 2019/2020 season. The first part of the season was played with spectators present and the latter without any spectators. The study showed that in games without spectators there were less offensive opportunities for players, resulting in fewer goals scored and fewer points gained in the league.

Most children enjoy having their parents as spectators, but sometimes their presence can lead to anxiety, especially when parents are exhibiting negative behaviour and derogatory comments.

Violent behaviour by spectators can be caused by factors such as:

psychological factors (feeling of adrenaline)

influence of alcohol

sporting rivalries

socio-political factors

reaction to their team's performance

Racism in sport has recently been in the spotlight with spectators insulting players, petitions against contracting certain athletes, and the setting-up of racist banners.

Athletes do feel the pressure from spectators and it may influence the skills of individual players and the performance of the team.

Transportation

Local transportation - how does the athlete get to and from practice or competition facilities

Travel

Competitions away from home, transportation arrangement from hotel to sport facilities, travel fatigue and jet lag

Accommodation

Food

Ultraviolet Light

The performance of physical exercise and sports activities outdoors are associated with the development of skin cancer. There is a direct relationship between ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and melanoma and basal cell carcinoma. Sun exposure has been shown to be a risk for skin cancer in outdoor sports.

The short term risk of ultraviolet light exposure is sun-burn and long term risks are cancer (melanoma, basal cell cancer and squamous cell cancer).

The UV radiation spectrum is divided into three regions

UVA

Responsible for about 90% of UV

Causes sunburn

Penetrates through deep cutaneous layers

Damages DNA via free radical formation

Contributes to skin ageing and wrinkling

UVB

biologically active but cannot penetrate beyond the superficial skin layers

Responsible for delayed tanning and sunburning

Enhances skin ageing

Promotes the development of skin cancer

Most of the UVB rays from the sun are filtered by the atmosphere

UVC

most damaging

completely filtered by the atmosphere and does not reach the surface of the earth

Read more: Radiation: Ultraviolet (UV) radiation

UV Index

a measure of the level of UV radiation

values of index range from zero to upward - the higher the UV index - the greater risk for damage to the skin and eye and the less time it takes for damage to occur

Read more: Radiation: The ultraviolet (UV) index

Sunburn Stages

Sunburn = Flush damaged skin caused by overexposure to UV rays from the sun

Can be mild or severe

First degree sunburn

only skin surface (epidermis) is affected

Signs include:

redness

swelling

pain

superficial damage

Second-degree sunburn

affects the epidermis (outer-layer) and the dermis (underlaying layer of the skin)

Signs include

blistering

pain

swelling

redness

Third-degree sunburn

affects the deep hypodermis, dermis and epidermis

skin carbonisation or translucent whit colour of the skin

coagulated and visible vessels under the skin surface

What to expect when you get a sunburn

Stage 1

first 1 to 3 hours

Increased blood flow to the area

skin turns pink and feels warm to the touch

skin may swell and feel painful

Stage 2

First 24 hours

Full effect of sunburn sets in

Peak in redness of skin

Skin is red, hot, painful and inflamed

Blistering may occur

Stage 3

3 days to 2 weeks

skin starts to return to normal

decrease in redness

flaking and peeling of skin as body sheds damaged cells

Skin types and the risk of sunburn

Table 1. Fitzpatrick Skin Phototype Scale

Type	Natural skin colour	UV Sensitivity	Tendency to burn
1	very fair, pale white, often freckled	highly sensitive	always burns, never tans
2	fair, white skin	very sensitive	burns easily, tans minimally
3	light brown	sensitive	burns moderately, usually tans
4	moderate brown	less sensitive	burns minimally, tans easily
5	dark brown	minimal sensitivity	rarely burns
6	deeply pigmented dark brown to black	minimal sensitivity	never burns

Other methods of skin typing include:

Lancer ethnicity scale

Fanous skin classification

Goldman world classification scale

Taylor hyperpigmentation scale

Roberts skin type classification system

Resources

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