Facts and fiction on ultraviolet protection by clothing

With the increase of skin cancer the fact that not all apparel is sufficiently protective against UV Radiation is becoming better known to the public. There is an emerging market for UV protective clothing. Its need is not commonly accepted, Understanding of the influencing factors is low, To the consumer it is not always clear what is fact and what is fiction. This paper answers six frequently asked questions. (1) The need for improving UV protection by clothing is demonstrated by UV transmittance measurements in public. (2) A pitfall in the generally recommended 'see through' assessment test is shown, (3) When a garment gets wet its UV protection is not necessarily poor. (4) The reduced UV protection of stretched knitwear can be accounted for. (5) A real life study confirms that UV protection is not washed out. (6) UV protection can be washed in with special additives to laundry products.