© 1996 Oxford University Press
research-article |
Incidence of Malignant Melanoma of the Skin in Norway, 1955–1989: Associations with Solar Ultraviolet Radiation, Income and Holidays Abroad
*Centre for Social and Economic Research on the Global Environment (CSERGE), School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
Department of Geography, University of Trondheim 7055 Dragvoll, Norway
Bentham G (Centre for Social and Economic Research on the Global Environment [CSERGE], School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK) and Aase A. Incidence of malignant melanoma of the skin in Norway, 1955–1989: associations with solar ultraviolet radiation, income and holidays abroad. International Journal of Epidemiology1996; 25: 1132–1138.
BACKGROUND: Norway has the highest incidence of melanoma In Europe. This study analyses geographical variations in melanoma incidence within Norway and their association with possible aetiological factors.
METHODS: Data on melanoma incidence from the Norwegian Cancer Registry were used to calculate standardized incidence ratios (SIR) for the 19 counties in Norway for each 5-year period from 1955 to 1989. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the assocations between these SIR and local UVB levels, holidays abroad and income. Similar methods were also used to analyse changes in SIR between 1955–1969 and 1985–1989.
RESULTS: There was a highly significant association between melanoma incidence and UVB in each of the time periods studied. Income showed a significant positive association in the 1960s and early 1970s but not later. Foreign holidays showed a significant positive association in the 1980s, but not earlier. Changes in melanoma SIR between 1955–1969 and 1985–1989 were significantly positively associated with holidays abroad and negatively with income levels.
CONCLUSIONS: Melanoma incidence in Norway is closely related to local levels of UVB radiation independently.of other factors suggesting that local exposures carry significant risk. Risks would probably increase if ozone depletion led to enhanced UVB flux (estimated as 1.6% rise In incidence for each 1% increase in UVB). By the end of the study period income was no longer a significant factor but holidays abroad had started to have a detectable effect on melanoma incidence.
Keywords melanoma incidence, Norway, solar radiation, ultraviolet radiation, income, holidays abroad, ozone depletion
Revised 1 April 1996
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  A. A. Qureshi, F. Laden, G. A. Colditz, and D. J. Hunter Geographic Variation and Risk of Skin Cancer in US Women: Differences Between Melanoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, and Basal Cell Carcinoma Arch Intern Med, March 10, 2008; 168(5): 501 - 507. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. Perlis and M. Herlyn Recent Advances in Melanoma Biology Oncologist, April 1, 2004; 9(2): 182 - 187. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 G. Liu, Y. Zhang, A. M. Bode, W.-Y. Ma, and Z. Dong Phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 Is Mediated by the p38/MSK1 Pathway in Response to UVB Irradiation J. Biol. Chem., March 8, 2002; 277(11): 8810 - 8816. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 B. A. Gilchrest, M. S. Eller, A. C. Geller, and M. Yaar The Pathogenesis of Melanoma Induced by Ultraviolet Radiation N. Engl. J. Med., April 29, 1999; 340(17): 1341 - 1348. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|