Abstract
An analysis of occupational incidence data for malignant melanomas and squamous-and basal-self carcinomas of the skin in England and Wales from 1970 to 1975 is reported. The occupational pattern for melanomas of the trunk and limbs differed markedly from the pattern for melanomas of the head, face and neck. Office work was associated with a large excess of melanomas of the trunk and limbs. In contrast, outdoor work was associated with an excess of melanomas of the head, face and neck; and was also associated with an excess of squamous-and basal-cell carcinomas of the skin. This suggests that prolonged occupational exposure to sunlight is an important cause of squamous-and basal-cell carcinomas and of melanomas of the head, face and neck, but not of melanomas on other parts of the body. The high rate of lesions on the trunk and limbs in office workers may reflect their sunbathing or other recreational habits; but it contrasts clearly with other indoor work, where there is a generally low rate of all forms of skin cancer.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Holman C. D., Mulroney C. D., Armstrong B. K. Epidemiology of pre-invasive and invasive malignant melanoma in Western Australia. Int J Cancer. 1980 Mar 15;25(3):317–323. doi: 10.1002/ijc.2910250303. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Houghton A., Flannery J., Viola M. V. Malignant melanoma in Connecticut and Denmark. Int J Cancer. 1980 Jan 15;25(1):95–104. doi: 10.1002/ijc.2910250113. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Khoo S. K., Correy J. F. Contraception and the "high-risk" woman. Med J Aust. 1981 Jan 24;1(2):60–68. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1981.tb135321.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Klepp O., Magnus K. Some environmental and bodily characteristics of melanoma patients. A case-control study. Int J Cancer. 1979 Apr 15;23(4):482–486. doi: 10.1002/ijc.2910230407. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kripke M. L. Speculations on the role of ultraviolet radiation in the development of malignant melanoma. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1979 Sep;63(3):541–548. doi: 10.1093/jnci/63.3.541. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- LANCASTER H. O., NELSON J. Sunlight as a cause of melanoma; a clinical survey. Med J Aust. 1957 Apr 6;44(14):452–456. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lee J. A., Merrill J. M. Sunlight and the aetiology of malignant melanoma: a synthesis. Med J Aust. 1970 Oct 31;2(18):846–851. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1970.tb63213.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lee J. A., Strickland D. Malignant melanoma: social status and outdoor work. Br J Cancer. 1980 May;41(5):757–763. doi: 10.1038/bjc.1980.138. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Magnus K. Incidence of malignant melanoma of the skin in Norway, 1955-1970. Variations in time and space and solar radiation. Cancer. 1973 Nov;32(5):1275–1286. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(197311)32:5<1275::aid-cncr2820320537>3.0.co;2-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Magnus K. Incidence of malignant melanoma of the skin in the five Nordic countries: significance of solar radiation. Int J Cancer. 1977 Oct 15;20(4):477–485. doi: 10.1002/ijc.2910200402. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- McGovern V. J., Shaw H. M., Milton G. W., Farago G. A. Is malignant melanoma arising in a Hutchinson's melanotic freckle a separate disease entity? Histopathology. 1980 May;4(3):235–242. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2559.1980.tb02918.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Teppo L., Pakkanen M., Hakulinsen T. Sunlight as a risk factor of malignant melanoma of the skin. Cancer. 1978 May;41(5):2018–2027. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(197805)41:5<2018::aid-cncr2820410550>3.0.co;2-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Urbach F. Welcome and introduction: evidence and epidemiology of ultraviolet-induced cancers in man. Natl Cancer Inst Monogr. 1978 Dec;(50):5–10. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Ward W. H. Melanoma. Carcinoma of the skin and sunlight. Australas J Dermatol. 1967 Jun;9(1):70–75. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-0960.1967.tb01154.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]